UNIVERSITY  OF 
ILLINOIS  L^ 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
ILLfNOIS  HISTORICAL 


Seventy- Fifth 

Anniversary 
History 

of  the 

First  Baptist  Church 

URBANA,  ILLINOIS 


Organized  September  21,  1838 


A  day  in  golden  letters  to  be  set 
Among  the  high  tides  of  the  calendar 


Rev.  Gideon  M.  Shott,  D.  D. 
Pastor 


Diamond  Jubilee  Week 

September  21-28,  1913 


Complements  of 

The   History  Committee 

L.  A.  McLean,  Chairman. 
Mrs.  Melissa  Carson. 
Mrs.  Margaret  Walker. 
Mrs.  R.  A.  Webber. 
,   N.  A.  Riley. 
Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  SecretarjJ 


Seventy- Fifth 

ANNIVERSARY  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 

URBANA,  ILLINOIS 


ORGANIZED  SEPTEMBER  21,  1838 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE  WEEK 

SEPTEMBER  21-28,  1913 


"A  day  in  golden  letters  to  be  set 
Among  the  high  tides  of  the  calendar." 


Rev.  Gideon  M.  Shott,  D.  D. 
Pastor 


PREFACE 


The  Historical  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed   to   write   the   history   of   the 
First   Baptist   Church   of  Urbana,   for 
the  period  of  75  years,  from  September 
21st,  1838,  to  September     21st,     1913. 
Our  task  would  have  been  compara- 
tively an  easy  one  if  the  material  had 
been  collected.     On  the  other  hand  it 
has  been  a  difficult  tas'k  on  account  of 
the  scattered  condition  of  the  meager 
material  at  hand.     Historians  are  not 
supposed  to  be  poets  with  cultivated 
imaginations,  and  it  has  been  very  dif- 
ficult to   put  in  the  proper  filling  to 
make  the  book  symmetrical.    All  has 
been  done  that  is  reasonable,  to  gather 
and  arrange  the  material,  and  the  re- 
sult is  hereby  presented  to  those  who 
will  appreciate  the  personality  of  the 
people  of  whom  your  committee  writes 
so  inadequately.    The  Committee  has 
sought   by   every   ordinary   means   to 
avoid  mistakes,  and  will  regret  the  ap- 
pearance in  these  pages  of  anything 
that  is  not  correct,  or  does  not  reflect 
full   credit   upon   the   people,   or    the 
work  of  the  past.    For  this  reason  we 
have  given  you  as  many  pictures  as  we 
could,  that  their  dear     faces     might 
speak  the  message  we  cannot  fully  ut- 
ter. 

"He  being  dead,  yet  speaketh." 

Historical  Committee. 


INTRODUCTION 


We  have  an  idea  that  Baptists  would 
do  well  to  look  a  little  more  carefully 
to  their  history.  Details  of  great  im- 
portance are  lost  to  the  future  because 
at  the  time  they  are  not  thought  to 
be  of  importance,  or  the  actors  are 
too  modest,  or  too  indifferent  to  give 
them  permanence.  Finding  that  the 
oldest,  and  most  important  book  of 
records  in  our  church  has  been  lost, 
and  most  of  those  who  knew  anything 
of  the  early  days  fast  passing  away,  it 
seemed  best  that  all  the  materials  that 
were  available,  had  better  be  put  in 
some  permanent  form.  Details  that  in 
themselves  may  not  seem  important 
to  us  just  now  may  be  of  vast  import- 
ance later  on.  It  may  be  when  the 
history  of  One  Hundred  years  is 
written,  that  the  task  of  this  writing 
will  show  the  wisdom  of  the  under- 
taking. It  is  also  very  important  that 
the  church  should  look  backward 
c  ^nietimes  to  see  the  stages  through 
which  God  has  led  it.  The  opening 
chapter  takes  us  back  more  than  one 
hundred  years.  The  next  three  chap- 
',  ters  cover  a  period  of  nearly  a  quarter 
-  of  a  century  each.  The  rest  of  the 
.  <fl  book  is  arranged  as  nearly  in  natural 
~r  order  as  possible.  Pictures  have  been 
freely  used  because  we  had  so  many, 
and  some  others  were  easily  obtain- 
able. It  has  been  impossible  to  give 


pictures  of  any  more  pastors,  or  con- 
stituent   members. 

The  book  is  not  printed  to  make 
any  more  money  than  the  cost  of 
printing,  and  advertising,  and  other 
necessary  expense,  which  has  been  re- 
duced to  a  minimum  by  the  pastor 
giving  his  time  to  arrange  the  pages, 
and  adjust  the  cuts,  etc.  The  Histor- 
ical Committee  has  done  all  its  work 
as  a  service  of  love  and  hence  saved 
much  expense.  Most  of  the  parties 
for  whom  new  cuts  were  made,  paid 
for  them  themselves,  thus  saving  ex- 
tra expense.  If  the  book  appeals  to 
you  it  would  be  a  happy  thing  if  you 
would  mention  it  favorably  to  others 
who  will  buy,  and  thus  save  the  Com- 
mittee any  personal  debt.  No  church 
debt  is  to  be  incurred  by  this  history 
and  it  need  not  interfere  with  any  de- 
partment of  giving.  In  the  hope  that 
it  may  serve  the  purposes  for  which 
it  was  intended,  and  lead  many  to 
think  more  of  their  church,  and  be 
willing  to  do  more  for  it,  this  book  is 
introduced  to  its  readers. 

L.  A.  McLean,  Chairman. 
Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  Secretary. 
Mrs.  Melissa  Carson. 
Mrs.  Margaret  Walker. 
Mrs.  R.  A.  Webber. 
N.  A.  Riley. 


L.    A.    M'LEAN—MEMORIAL. 


"THUS  IT  BECOMETH    US  TO   FULFILL  ALL   RIGHTEOUSNESS." 


"Therefore,  we  are  buried  with  him  by  baptism  into  death:  That  like  as 
Christ  was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  so  we  also 
should  walk  in  newness  of  life." 

"The  like  figure  whereunto  even  baptism  doth  also  now  save  us,  (not 
the  putting  away  of  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  but  the  answer  of  a  good  conscience 
toward  God)  by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ," 


CHAPTER  I. 
ABORIGINAL  HISTORY 


"Look  now  abroad!     Another  race  has  filled 

Those  populous  borders — wide  the  wood  recedes, 

And  towns  shoot  up.  and  fertile  realms  are  tilled; 
The  land  is  full  of  harvest  and  green  meads." 


Twenty-two  years  before  Illinois 
became  a  state,  and  was  admitted  into 
the  Union,  Elder  David  Badgley  or- 
ganized a  Baptist  Church  at  New  De- 
sign Monroe  County,  on  the  29th  day 
of  February,  1796,  with  28  members. 
This  was  the  first  evangelical  church 
organized  in  Illinois  territory. 

Greed  for  gold,  led  the  Spanish  to 
discover,  and  religious  enthusiasm  led 
the  French  to  settle  the  Mississippi 
valley.  George  Rogers  Clark  went  to 
Virginia,  and  presented  plans  for  the 
occupancy  of  Illinois  by  Americans, 
to  Patrick  Henry,  Governor  of  the 
state.  Illinois  was  then  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Virginia.  Clark  receiv- 
ed his  instructions  in  January,  1778, 
and  in  February  set  out  for  Pittsburgh. 
He  gathered  four  companies  of  men, 
and  captured  Kaskaskia  without  shed- 
ding a  drop  of  blood.  This  signal  vic- 
tory owed  its  bloodless  triumph  to  the 
fact  that  the  people  of  Illinois  County 
had  a  wholesome  dread  of  the  Virgin- 
ians, whom  they  called  "long  knives." 

October,  1778,  the  Virginia  assembly 
called  this  territory  the  County  of  Illi- 
nois. Since  that  date  five  large  states 
have  been  formed  out  of  this  county. 
For  some  time  the  contentions  of  Brit- 


ish, French,  and  Virginians  made  the 
administration  of  government  very 
difficult.  The  seat  of  government  was 
at  Marietta,  Ohio.  In  1800  the  Terri- 
tory of  Indiana  of  which  Illinois  was  a 
part,  was  formed  with  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment at  Vincennes.  In  1809  the 
Territory  of  Illinois  was  constituted 
with  the  seat  of  government  at  Kas- 
kasia.  In  1818  Illinois  was  received  as 
a  sovereign  state  into  the  union.  It 
was  stipulated  that  Vandalia  was  to  be 
the  Capitol  for  20  years,  after  which 
Springfield  was  phosen  as  Capitol. 
The  aboriginees  of  this  land  rapidly 
perished  before  the  march  of  civiliza- 
tion. 

There  are  evident  signs  that  one,  if 
not  two  or  more  peoples,  lived,  and 
loved,  and  died  on  this  rich  soil  before 
the  Indians,  whom  it  is  customary  to 
regard  as  first.  And  yet  these  remote 
peoples  lived  such  a  simple  life  that 
no  art  works,  or  implements,  are  left 
to  us  except  the  most  primitive  sort, 
to  tell  of  their  degree  of  advancement 
in  the  scale  of  civilization.  They 
used  only  stone  implements,  which  in 
the  manufacture,  required  infinite  pa- 
tience, These  early  occupants  of  the 
soil  despised  labor,  and  imposed  it  as 


a  degradation  upon  their  women.  In- 
dian corn  and  tobacco  are  all  of  their 
contributions  to  the  world  progress. 
The  Pottawotamies  and  Kickapoos 
roamed  these  great  prairies  and  many 
of  their  representatives  were  still 
scattered  through  this  county  at  the 
time  of  the  beginning  of  churches  and 
schools.  A$  late  as  1832  Indian  corn 
mills  could  be  found  among  the  hazel 
brush  around  the  court  house  square. 
"Old  Soldier"  Shemanger,  a  Pottawot- 
tamie  chief,  claimed  this  location  as 
his  birthplace,  and  said  he  loved  the 
spot,  and  hated  to  leave  it.  Amos 
Johnson,  who  remembered  encamp- 
ments of  Red  Men  in  1830,  says,  "The 
braves  amused  themselves  by  cutting 
mortices  with  their  tomahawks 
through  two  trees  that  stood  near 
each  other,  into  which  they  inserted 
the  ends  of  poles  laid  horizontally, 
one  above  the  other  at  convenient 
distances,  making  a  large  living  lad- 
der of  great  height.  Up  this  ladder 
the  Indians  would  climb  when  the 
weather  was  warm  and  sultry  to  catch 
the  higher  breezes,  and  escape  the 
annoyances  of  the  mosquitos.  He  has 
seen  them  comfortably  reclining  and 
asleep  in  the  tops  of  the  trees  while 
their  squaws  were  engaged  below  in 
domestic  duties." 

"In  the  winter  of  1852  or  1853  a 
company  of  braves  came  from  the 
West  through  Urbana  on  their  way  to 
visit  the  President  in  Washington. 
While  stopping  here  one  of  their  num- 
ber sickened  and  died,  and  was  buried 
in  the  old  cemetery  of  Urbana.  His 
companions  greatly  mourned  him  and 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  grave  a 
board  with  divers  cabalistic  signs, 
and  also  a  pole  which  for  several 
years  supported  a  flag,  and  other  orn- 
aments. After  committing  his  body  to 
the  grave  his  comrades  blazed  a  road 
with  their  tomahawks,  from  the  grave 
to  the  "Bone  Yard"  branch,  to  guide 
the  dead  man's  thirsty  spirit  to  the 


water." 

"And  we  have  built  our  homes  upon 

Fields  where  their  generations  sleep." 

The  honor  of  being  the  first  white 
settler  belongs  to  Runnel  Fielder,  who 
"squatted"  on  what  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Roe  farm.  He  built  the 
first  mill  for  the  grinding  of  grain 
about  1828. 

The  first  minister  to  hold  religious 
services  in  the  county  was  Rev.  John 
Dunham  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  Next  to  him  was  Rev.  — 
Mahurim,  a  'Baptist,  and  next  to  him 
Alexander  Holbrook,  a  Methodist  ex- 
horter  who  sometimes  rode  a  steer  to 
his  appointments.  Among  the  eccen- 
tric ministers  of  that  time  was  Rev. 
Samuel  Mapes,  who  rode  on  a  steer 
which  was  usually  ornamented  with  a 
bell.  He  rode  barefoot  and  carried  a 
gun."  Next  to  these  adventurous  pio- 
neers came  a  class  with  the  love  of 
home,  and  school,  and  church,  and  as 
one  has  said,  "the  wilderness,  and 
solitary  place  was  glad  for  them,  and 
the  desert  rejoiced,  and  blossomed  as 
the  rose."  They  fought  against  the 
melancholy  ravages  of  malaria,  the 
pestiferous  mosquito,  the  prairie  fly, 
and  faced  and  fought  the  terrible  but 
sublime  prairie  fires.  They  ushered 
in  that  hospitable  period  when  every 
"latchstring  hung  outside,"  when 
every  house  was  an  inn,  and  every  loaf 
was  baked  to  share. 
We,  have  entered  into  their  hard 
earned  possessions  and  will  never  be 
able  to  repay  a  tithe  of  the  gratitude 
we  owe  to  these  sturdy  pioneers  who 
fitted  this  country  for  the  habitation 
of  vast  multitudes  of  people.  These 
were  the  kind  of  people  of  which  our 
historic  church  was  organized.  Many 
of  their  descendants  are  among  us 
till  this  day,  and  names  familiar  to 
the  traders  and  trappers  at  Runnel 
Fielder's  store  are  among  our  most 
familiar  names,  while  we  plan  our 
seventy-fifth  anniversary. 


CHAPTER  II. 
ORIGINAL  HISTORY 

It  is  to  be  all  made  of  sighs  and  tears; 

:t  is  to  be  all  made  of  faith,  and  service; 

It  is  to  be  all  made  of  fantasy — 

All   made  of  passion,   and   all   made   of  wishes: 

All  adoration,   duty,  and  observance; 

All  humbleness,  patience  and  impatience; 

All  purity,  all  trial,  all   observance." 


The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ur- 
hana,  Champaign  County,  Illinois, 
was  organized  under  the  preaching  of 
Elder  Isaac  Newell.  The  denomination 
has  been  identified  with  Champaign 
County  ever  since  its  organization. 

The  Rev.  Mahurin,  a  Baptist 

preacher,  was  the  first  minister  to 
proclaim  the  gospel  in  the  county.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and 
went  as  chaplain  of  a  regiment  rais- 
ed in  this  part  of  the  state. 

Father  John  G.  Robertson,  a  Baptist 
layman,  entered  land  in  section  10  in 
Urbana  township  in  1830.  He  was  a 
zealous  Christian  worker,  and  no 
doubt  to  him  is  due  the  credit  of  sow- 
ing the  seed  which  afterwards  result- 
ed in  the  present  Baptist  church.  He 
is  said  to  have  held  the  first  religious 
meetings  ever  held  in  Urbana  after  it 
became  a  town.  He  removed  near 
Mahomet,  where  he  raised  a  family 
from  which  descended  some  of  the 
best  people  of  that  vicinity.  In  the 
records  of  the  old  lost  book  of  Minutes 
— which  Brother  L.  A.  McLean  took 
the  precaution  to  copy  many  years 
ago — is  the  opening  statement  that 
the  church  was  organized  in  the  Old 
Court  House  in  Urbana.  In  a  copy  of 
the  Champaign  County  Herald  of  Au- 
gust 22nd,  1888,  it  stated  that  the 
church  was  organized  in  the  house,  or 
in  the  grove  of  Samuel  Brumley, 
about  one  mile  and  a  half  east  of  town. 
Of  this,  however,  we  are  assured  that 
the  date  is  right  and  the  names  of 
the  constituents  correct. 
Rev.  Isaac  Newell  was  a  missionary 
sent  out  to  Central  Illinois  by  our 


Am.  Bap.  H.  M.  So. 

Elder  Newell  has  a  record  for  much 
work  as  a  missionary  of  the  society. 
It  was  while  he  was  at  Bloomington 
that  he  came  over,  and  worked  in  this 
place.  In  1832  there  were  but  131 
miles  of  operative  railroads  in  this 
country.  Travel  was  entirely  by  pri- 
vate conveyance. 

The  Chrisman  Church  in  this  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  in  1832,  and  In- 
dianola  in  1837.  Urbana  church  was 
organized  by  Elder  Isaac  Newell,  the 
third  Sunday  in  September,  1838.  In 
1839  the  County  Commissioners  order- 
ed the  County  Clerk  to  convey  to  the 
Baptist  church  of  Urbana  a  town  lot 
to  be  seletced  by  the  Trustees  on  the 
condition  that  they  erect  a  house  of 
worship  on  the  same  within  twelve 
months.  The  financial  condition  of 
the  church  was  such  that  the  offer 
was  not  complied  with.  Among  the 
converts  of  Elder  Newell  was  Mrs. 
Malinda  Bryant,  converted  in  1934. 
Four  years  later  she  united  with  the 
Urbana  church,  and  held  her  mem- 
bership there  for  many  years.  She 
was  born  in  Shelby  County,  Kentucky, 
in  1812,  and  came  to  this  county  with 
her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Bu- 
sey,  in  1831.  She  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  John  Bryant  in  1833,  about 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  this 
county,  and  was  the  first  bride  in  the 
county.  She  made  five  horseback 
trips  to  Kentucky  to  visit  the  scenes 
of  her  childhood. 

The  names  of  the  original  constitu- 
ents of  the  church  are  thirteen  in 
number,  as  follows: 


Matilda    Bixler 

Samuel    Brumley 

Lia   Brumley 

John  Brumley 

Nancy   Cook 

David    Cox 

Phoebe   Cox 

Ivan    Jones 

Elizabeth    Jones 

Eda    Porter 
James    T.    Roe 

Lillie   Roe 
Elizabeth  Truman 


and  his  wife  purchased  the  farm  of 
Runnel  Fielder  and  made  the  first  im- 
provements in  the  county.  He  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  City 
of  Urbana,  having  made  four  addi- 
tions to  the  town  site.  Mrs.  Roe  died 
in  November,  18CO,  and  Mr.  Roe  sur- 
vived her  until  August  23,  18G6,  when 


Mrs.   Matilda   Bryant. 

Deacon  James  T.  Roe 
We  are  fortunate  in  having  a  brief 
notice  of  one  of  the  constituent  mem- 
bers, Deacon  James  T.  Roe,  also  a 
cut.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Deacons 
elected  in  1839.  He  and  his  wife  were 
constituent  members.  He  was  a  good 
organizer  and  did  much  to  help  in  the 
organization  of  the  new  church.  He 
was  born  in  Oregon  County,  New 
York,  August  4th,  1793.  He  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  June,  1831,  to  Lillis 
Busey,  daughter  of  Isaac  Busey,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  this  county.  He 


James  T.  Roe 

they  were  united  above.  Two  sons 
survive  them,  John  B.  Roe,  who  resides 
in  Kansas,  and  Isaac  B.,  who  resides 
near  this  city.  All  these  have  long 
since  been  called  to  their  reward,  and 
history  has  not  been  left  to  give  us 
the  knowledge  of  their  trials,  and 
successes,  when  to  be  a  Christian  was 
not  so  easy  a  task  as  some  now  think 
it  is. 


Deacon    Matthias    Rinehart 

Deacon  Matthias  Rhinehart.  He 
was  the  first  Deacon  of  the  church, 
being  elected  in  March,  1839.  He 
came  from  Chester  Co.,  Pennsylvania, 
to  this  county,  in  the  fall  of  1829,  and 
bought  the  farm  once  owned  by  A.  M. 
Fauley  in  Somers  Township.  He  was 


highly  respected  by  the  community, 
and  those  who  survived  him  spoke 
well  of  him  to  the  end  of  their  lives. 
He  was  alike  a  good  neighbor,  citizen, 
and  church  member.  He  ably  filled 


Matthias  Rinehart 

the  office  of  Deacon  for  several  years. 
He  died  in  this  County  about  1863  at  a 
good  old  age. 

Matthias    Rinehart. 

The  honor  of  making  the  first  set- 
tlement in  Somers  County  is  conceded 
to  Matthias  Rinehart.  He  came  from 
Ohio  in  1827.  He  married  Elizabeth 
March.  Mr.  Rinehart  used  to  relate 
many  stories  concerning  "ye  olden 
times."  He  relates  that  the  year  1831 
was  without  a  summer.  Frost  delayed 
in  the  springtime,  and  returning  pre- 
maturely in  Setpember,  destroyed  the 
crops  and  a  long  season  of  suffering 
followed.  December,  183G,  a  deep  snow 
fell  and  was  followed  by  a  heavy  rain, 
which  was  succeeded  by  a  severe 
freeze,  and  many  persons  who  were 
not  prepared  for  it  froze  to  death.  Two 
men  named  Hildreth  and  Frame,  were 


out,  and  became  confused  and  wander- 
ed from  their  way.  They  killed  their 
horses,  and  Frame  entered  the  body 
of  his  horse  for  protection  against  the 
cold,  but  it  proved  to  be  his  grave, 
where  he  was  found  frozen  to  death 
by  a  searching  party,  and  Hildreth  lost 
Lis  toes  and  fingers  from  the  excessive 
cold  he  endured  while  wandering 
around  all  night.  Mr.  Rinehart  was 
very  successful  in  business,  and  spent 
his  closing  days  in  plenty.  When  he 
came  to  this  neighborhood  he  was  a 
Dunkard,  and  there  being  no  church 
of  his  faith  near  by,  he  sought,  and 
gained  admission  into  the  Baptist 
•church,  and  was  one  of  its  earliest 
members,  and  was  elected  Deacon  on 
the  same  night  with  Deacon  J.  T.  Roe. 
March,  1839,.  Deacon  Rinehart  died 
in  18G3. 

Up  till  1850  services  were  held  in 
the  homes  of  the  members  except  on 
regular  preaching  days,  when  the 
school  house  across  the  road  from 
Mr.  Samuel  Brumley's  house  in  Sol 
Nox's  wood  pasture  was  used.  This 
school  house  is  known  in  history  as 
the  place  where  A.  Bruer,  the  school 
master,  smoked  the  scholars  out. 

In  1850  the  church  was  dismissed 
from  the  McClain  Association,  and 
joined  the  Bloomfield  Association, 
August  8,  1851.  Urbana  having  be- 
come a  good  sized  town,  and  the 
church  having  been  strengthened  by 
a  number  of  Baptists  moving  to  the 


Brumley's  School   House 


City,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  suitable 
house  of  worship. 

In  November,  1851,  John  White,  Wil- 
liam Gill,  D.  O.  Brumley,  Colonel  Bu- 
sey,  and  James  S.  Busey,  were     ap- 
pointed  as   a   Building   Committee   to 
superintend  the  new  church  building 
which  was  completed  and  paid  for  in 
1856.     At  the  same  time  James  My- 
ers, D.  O.  Brumley,  and  T.  L.  Truman, 
were  elected  trustees  of    the  church. 
The  ladies  who  have  always  contrib- 
uted   largely    to    the    church,    raised 
money,  and  purchased  a  church  bell, 
which  was  the  first  bell  in  the  coun- 
ty, and  was  hauled  here  by  teams  from 
the  east.    Many  people  who  had  never 
heard  a  church  bell  ring,  came  many 
miles    to    hear    this    one,    which    has 
tolled    the    death    knell    of   hundreds, 
and  called  thousands  to  worship,  and 
pray  during  its  half  century  and  more 
of   continuous   service.     Was   it     not 
sweet  and  musical  still  as  it  called  us 
to  our  75th  Anniversary  on  Septem- 
ber   21st?      On    March    30,    1852,    the 
church    asked    the    American    Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society  to  assist  them 
in  the  support  of  a  pastor,  to  the  ex- 
tent of  one  hundred  dollars  per  year, 
which  request  was  granted.     May  Cth, 
1854,  the  church   passed  a  resolution 
thanking  the  society  for  their  timely 
aid,  and  declared  themselves  able  to 
support  themselves.     This  is  the  only 
instance  on  the  church  records  where 
outside   aid   was  asked.     In   January, 
1849,  the  church  had  grown  to  43,  and 
May   1st,   1854,   it  was   72.     July   1st, 
185G,  it  was   95.     August  15,   1857,  it 
was  77.     August  20th,  1858,  it  was  G9. 
From  1848  to  1871  the  church  scarcely 
ever  missed   a  regular  church   meet- 
ing,   which    was    invariably    preceded 
by    a    sermon    by    the    pastor.      The 
church    looked    after    the    welfare    of 
its    members    regularly,   as   a   sample 
resolution  will  show,  that  was  passed 
by  the  church  in  their  June  meeting, 
1858,  as  follows:     "Resolved,  that  any 


members  who  absent  themselves  for 
three  successive  regular  meetings 
shall  be  looked  after  by  a  Commit- 
tee." This  resolution  has  never  been 
repealed.  The  first  deacons  were 
Matthias  Rhinehart  and  James  T. 
Roe,  elected  March,  1839.  On  the 
31st  of  August,  1851,  J.  P.  Ireland  was 
elected  deacon.  On  the  5th  day  of 
April,  1856,  James  S.  Busey  and  Wil- 
liam Gill  were  elected  deacons.  June, 
1858,  E.  S.  Packard,  J.  N.  Wilson,  and 
James  Myers  were  elected  to  the  same 
office. 

The  pastors  who  served  up  to  this 
time  were  Elders  Isaac  Newell,  Free- 
man Smalley,  Daniel  J.  Porter,  Rual 
Dotson,  G.  W.  Dare,  D.  S.  French, 

Taylor,    Ira    H.    Reese,    G.    M. 

Carter,  John  A.  Pool,  G.  W.  Riley  and 
A.  L.  Farr.  The  brethren  who  had 
served  as  church  clerks  were  David 
Cox,  James  Mjers,  T.  J.  Newport, 
Jeptha  Truman,  David  Quick,  and  A. 
J.  Allan. 

(For  length  of  service,  time  of 
election,  for  all  the  above,  see  table). 

We    are    fortunate    in    having    the 
pictures  of  some  of  these  old  worthies, 
and  the  biographies  of  some,  for  whom 
we  regret  we  have  no  pictures. 
Rev.    D.    S.    French,    D.D. 

Rev.  David  S.  French  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneer  preachers,  and  serv- 
ed the  Urbana  church  as  Pastor,  from 
August  to  December  Gth,  1851.  He 
was  a  sound  and  positive  preacher, 
and  very  successful  in  his  ministry. 
He  preached  the  gospel  in  this  asso- 
ciation, and  in  Indiana,  for  nearly 
forty  years.  From  a  memorandum 
made  not  long  before  his  death  we 
learn  (that  ihe  had  baptised  about 
1,500  persons.  He  graduated  from 
Granville  College  in  1840.  He  contin- 
ued preaching  till  his  health  failed 
him,  and  then  went  to  Brookston,  In- 
diana, and  in  company  with  his  son, 
Chester  C.,  ably  conducted  a  news- 
paper, which  was  edited  by  his  son 


Rev.  D.  S.  French 

for  many  years  after  the  father's 
death.  In  1877,  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him, 
of  which  he  was  worthy.  Many  in 
this  Association  in  days  that  are  now 
gone  remembered  him  for  leading 
them  to  Christ.  His  works  follow 
him. 

Deacon  James  Myers 
Deacon  James  Myers.  He  was  cer- 
tainly one  of  the  founders  of  the 
church  and  bore  the  burdens  of  its  in- 
fancy with  much  patience  and  faith 
and  he  was  permitted  to  watch  its 
growth  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  see 
the  fruits  of  his  toil.  It  was  he  who 
prevented  the  splitting  of  the  church 
and  the  organization  of  a  Baptist 
church  in  Champaign  instead  of  Ur- 
bana.  He  was  born  in  Scott  county, 
Kentucky,  February  22,  1813.  His  pa- 
rents moved  to  Indiana  when  he  was 
14  years  of  age.  He  came  to  Urbana 
in  1835.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Cook,  and  raised  a  large  family. 
His  wife  died.  He  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Julia  Chandler  in  the  spring  of 
1871.  He  died  February  22,  1883.  He 
was  deacon  for  twenty-five  years,  a 
position  which  he  faithfully  filled  to 


the  very  last.  He  was  clerk  of  the 
church  for  eleven  years  from  May, 
1844.  He  was  faithful  to  the  services 
of  the  church,  never  missing  a  service 
if  it  was  possible  for  him  to  attend. 
He  bore  his  part  in  every  department. 
He  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
formation  of  the  Centennial  Church, 
and  labored  hard  in  securing  funds 
Tor  the  ibuilding.  His  ^death  to|ok 
place  on  his  70th  birthday  when  sur- 
rounded by  his  family.  What  a  meet- 
ing that  must  have  been  when  he 
joined  those  who  had  gone  before. 

Deacon  James  S.  Busey 
Eeacon  Jams  S.  Busey.  Mr.  Busey 
was  another  member  whose  name  was 
closely  associated  with  the  history  of 
the  church,  and  to  whom  the  church 
is  indebted  more  than  to  any  one  man 
for  the  church  building.  He  was  ap- 
pointed in  1851  as  a  member  of  the 
Building  Committee,  and  was  the  re- 
sponsible member  financially  of  the 
Committee.  He  gave  freely  of  his 
time  and  money,  till  ITie  building  was 
completed.  He  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky,  January  24,  1824, 


James  Myers 


8 


J.  S.    Busey 

and  came  to  this  county  in  1846.  He 
was  made  a  deacon  of  the  church, 
April  5th,  1856,  and  served  until  1858, 
when  he  removed  to  Arbela,  Missouri, 
where  he  resided  till  his  death.  Janu- 
ary 7th,  1888,  he  had  a  stroke  of 
apoplexy,  which  deprived  him  of 
speech  and  made  it  difficult  for  him  to 
walk.  What  sweet  memories  of  work 
well  done  must  have  comforted  his 
closing  hours. 

Deacon   William    Gill 

Deacon  William  Gill  was  a  man 
whose  name  will  always  be  remem- 
bered in  connection  with  the  Urbana 
Baptist  church.  His  house  was  ever 
open  and  in  the  early  days  he  was 
the  host  of  the  church,  and  never 
better  pleased  than  when  his  table 
was  surrounded  by  his  brethren.  He 
was  elected  Deacon,  April  5th,  1856, 
and  was  ordained  soon  after,  and  held 
the  office  till  the  day  of  his  death.  He 
officiated  in  the  communion  service  of 
the  church  only  a  short  time  before 


William    Gill 

his  death.  He  also  was  a  member  of 
the  building  committee,  and  was  ac- 
tive in  the  erection  of  the  meeting 
house.  He  doubtless  made  as  many 
sacrifices  for  the  church  as  any  mem- 
ber in  it.  He  was  always  at  his  post 
of  duty,  sickness  alone  seemed  to  pre- 
vent his  attendance  at  the  worship, 
and  services  of  his  church.  He  was 
born  in  Shelby  county,  Ky.,  April  3, 
1819.  He  was  married  in  Franklin 
county  May  19,  1842,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hodges.  They  lived  happily  together 
for  twenty-four  years,  when  God  call- 
ed Mrs.  Gill  to  be  at  rest  July  17,  186G. 
The  result  of  this  union  was  two  chil- 
dren, Mrs.  Mattie  Branes  of  Alpha, 
Missouri,  and  a  son  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Gill  united  with  the  Bap- 
tist church  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  and  continued  a  member  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  April  19, 
1885.  He  was  recognized  by  church 
and  community  as  a  good  man.  He 
came  to  Urbana  in  1850. 


9 


Deacon    Dudley    McClain 


Dudley  McClain 

Deacon  Dudley  McClain  was  one  of 
the  most  efficient  and  well  known 
members  of  the  church.  He  was 
elected  Deacon,  January  2nd,  1870, 
and  ably  filled  that  important  office 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  No- 
vember 17th,  1880.  He  was  born  in 
Harrison  county,  Ky.,  April  28th,  1817. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  October 
19th,  1837,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Hannah. 
He  was  converted  under  the  preaching 
of  his  brother-in-law,  Elder  G.  W. 
Riley,  in  1840,  at  Bloomfield.  He  was 
elected  Deacon  when  only  28  years  of 
age.  He  removed  with  his  family  to 
Urbana  in  1864.  He  was  loyal  to  his 
church,  his  pastor,  and  to  his  breth- 
ren, and  his  counsel  was  always  high- 
ly prized.  He  always  had  a  word  of 
encouragement  for  his  brethren,  and 
no  weak  Christian  ever  talked  with 
him  without  thanking  the  Lord  for 
euch  Christians  as  Dudley  McClain. 
He  was  a  man  of  few  words,  but  his 
face  literally  glowed  with  the  love 
which  was  within.  He  stood  high  in 


the  community  as  well  as  in  the 
church,  and  the  expression  could  be 
frequently  heard  that,  "if  there  was 
ever  a  Christian,  Dudley  McClain  is 
one."  The  church  deeply  felt  the 
loss  when  the  Ix>rd  called  him  home. 
He  left  surviving  him  his  estimable 
wife  and  son,  Judson,  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Fannie  Dicken,  who  is  still 
a  member  of  the  church  and  is  with 
us  to  celebrate  this  diamond  Anniver- 
sary. 

Deacon  Jackson   M.   Everett 

Deacon  Jackson  M.  Everett  was 
born  in  Lewis  County,  Ky.,  July  20th, 
1820.  He  was  converted  when  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  united 
with  the  Baptist  church.  He  came  to 
Champaign,  Illinois,  in  1859,  and  to 
Urbana  in  18GO.  He  at  once  placed 
his  membership  here,  where  it  remain- 
ed till  his  death,  which  took  place 
February  llth,  1870.  He  was  elected 
as  Deacon,  June  1st,  1860,  and  served 
faithfully  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  man  of  deep  conviction  on  religious 
subjects,  and  was  fearless  in  his  ex- 
pression of  them.  He  was  loyal  to 
God,  his  pastor,  the  church,  and  the 
brethren.  The  two  children  for  whom 
this  godly  man  so  earnestly  prayed 
have  found  their  father's  Saviour. 
Miss  Kate  Everett  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  Youths'  Christian 
Association,  which  had  much  to  do  in 
preparing  the  young  people  of  the 
church  for  the  great  revival  of  1S83. 
Rev.  Charles  T.  Everett  has  done  ex- 
cellent work  in  Chicago  and  elsewhere 
in  the  ministry. 

Edward   Ater 

Edward  Ater  was  born  June  6th, 
1815,  near  Clarksburg,  Ohio.  During 
his  boyhood  his  father  moved  to 
Perrysville,  Ind.,  and  settled  on  a 
farm.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia 
Green  at  the  age  of  22.  He  moved  to 
Illinois  in  1837,  in  what  is  now  Piatt 
County.  Thence  he  moved  to  Urbana 


10 


and  entered  into  mercantile  pursuits 
and  helped  in  the  development  of  the 
city  and  county.  He  was  mayor, 
sheriff,  judge  and  commissioner.  His 
wife  died  March  IGth,  1857,  and  he 
was  subsequently  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  Cramer.  In  the  spring  of 
1859  he  united  with  the  Baptist 
church  under  the  late  Elder  G.  W. 
Riley.  He  was  an  ardent  church 
member,  serving  as  treasurer  and 
deacon  for  many  years.  He  moved 
from  Urbana  to  Montk^llo,  where 
for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he 
was  a  great  sufferer.  His  summons 
came  November  8th,  1893.  He  was 
buried  with  Masonic  honors  in  Mt. 
Hope  cemetery. 

Robert  Slater 

The  Historical  Committee  is  fortu- 
nate to  have  in  its  possession  an 
autograph  church  letter  written  to  the 
Bloomfield  Association  in  its  meeting 
in  Paris  in  18G3.  Robert  Slater  was 
clerk  from  1857-18G5.  The  paper  is 
yellow  with  age,  but  the  ink  is  almost 
as  perfect  as  the  day  it  was  written. 
The  letter  is  a  very  fine  sample  of 
the  kind  written  for  many  years.  It 
is  dated  carefully,  which  shows  the 
accuracy  of  the  habits  of  the  writer, 
and  it  is  written  with  evident  care. 
The  character  of  the  writer  shows 
through  the  splendid  lines.  It  is  a 
pity  that  it  cannot  be  presented  ex- 
actly as  it  is  in  the  original.  It  is  as 
follows: 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  the 
City  of  Urbana  to  the  Bloomfield 
Baptist  Association  when  convened 
with  the  church  at  Paris,  sendeth 
greeting: 
Dear  Brethren: 

Through  the  tender  mercies  of  our 
Heavenly  Father  we  are  once  more 
permitted  to  send  you  our  annual 
message  by  our  delegates  whom  we 
have  chosen  to  sit  with  you  in  coun- 
cil, to  aid  devising  the  best  means 
to  carry  forward  the  work  of  our  di- 


vine Master,  whose  smiles  and  bless- 
ings we  trust  will  be  with  you  through 
all  your  deliberations. 
Dear  Brethren: 

We  feel  truly  grateful  to  God  for 
his  blessings  bestowed  upon  us  as  a 
church,  during  the  year  that  is  just 
past,  and  we  live  in  peace,  and  still 
enjoy  the  labors  of  our  beloved  Pas- 
tor, G.  W.  Riley,  who  ministers  faith- 
fully to  his  people  in  word  and  doc- 
trine. The  meetings  of  the  church 
are  well  sustained,  our  Sabbath 
school  is  well  attended,  and  still 
growing  in  interest,  and  promises 
much  good.  In  conclusion,  brethren, 
pray  for  us,  and  the  prosperity  of  Zion, 
and  may  the  united  prayers  of  all 
God's  people  go  up  to  the  "God  of 
Battles"  for  the  success  of  our  armies, 
and  for  the  restoration  of  peace  to 
our  bleeding  country."  The  usual 
statistics  of  membership  (see  Mem- 
bership Table  18G3)  are  then  given, 
and  some  pencil  notes  which  are  not. 
clear  enough  to  read,  and  then  the 
signature,  Robert  Slater,  Church 
Clerk. 

This  letter  contains  one  reference 
to  the  war  that  was  then  waging  be- 
tween the  states.  Little  did  these 
men  then  dream  of  the  far-reaching 
results  of  that  awful  civil  strife  on 
the  history  of  our  country  and  church. 

In  June,  18GO,  the  spire  of  the 
church  was  struck  by  lightning.  There 
was  a  fair  prospect  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  church,  which  was  noted 
by  George  W.  Flynn  and  J.  O.  Cun- 
ningham, who  were  passing  by.  Mr. 
Flynn  climbed  the  bell  rope,  and  pull- 
ed buckets  of  water  up  by  the  same 
means,  and  saved  the  building  from 
destruction. 

Elder   G.   W.   Riley 

In  October,  1858,  Elder  G.  W.  Riley 
was  recalled,  and  served  as  pastor 
until  April  7th,  18G7.  From  that  time 
the  church  rapidly  grew  in  numbers 


11 


Rev.  G.  W.   Riley 

and  in  strength,  and  at  the  end  of 
his  pastorate  about  300  persons  had 
been  received  by  baptism,  and  200  by 
letter.  During  the  same  time  about 
200  members  were  dismissed  by  let- 
ter, excluded  or  died,  leaving  the 
number  at  his  resignation,  about  300. 
During  the  next  three  years  the  church 
was  supplied  by  Rev.  S.  B.  J.  Bryant, 
and  A.  L.  Seward.  During  this  time 
the  church  suffered  greatly  from  in- 
discretions of  Rev.  S.  A.  Bryant.  The 
church  vindicated  her  honor  and 
standing  by  excluding  Rev.  Mr.  Bryant, 
and  a  council  being  called  by  agree- 
ment, the  action  of  the  church  was 
approved,  and  the  Elder  was  suspend- 
ed from  the  ministry  for  one  year. 
The  ministry  of  Elder  Seward  only 
tended  to  keep  up  discord  in  the 
church. 

This  well-known  man  of  God  was 
born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 2,  1813.  He  was  converted  at 
Bethel,  Ohio,  in  1833,  and  in  June, 
1833,  married  Miss  Bethire  McClain. 
Shortly  after  this  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Bloomfield,  where  h  was 


on  November,  183G,  licensed  to  preach, 
and  August  13th,  1838,  he  was  ordain- 
ed by  the  Bloomfleld  church,  and  be- 
came its  pastor  for  one-half  time. 
January,  1837,  he  rode  horseback  to 
Upper  Alton  to  pursue  study  to  sup- 
plement his  inadequate  common  school 
education.  Finding  the  expense  too 
great  for  his  meager  means,  he  re- 
turned home  after  one  month.  He  was 
a  cabinet  maker,  and  worked  at  his 
trade,  using  all  leisure  moments  to 
read,  and  prepare  himself  for  his  call- 
ing. In  the  autumn  of  1839  he  took 
his  wife  in  a  buggy,  and  drove  to 
Granville,  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  at- 
tending College  there,  but  his  people 
at  Bloomfleld  were  so  persistent  he 
returned  to  them  after  a  short  time, 
and  remained  12  years.  In  a  memor- 
andum he  says  he  traveled  an  average 
of  1,200  miles  per  year,  and  preached 
200  sermons  per  year.  He  built  nine 
meeting  houses.  In  1848  he  retained 
one  service  per  month  a,t  Bloomfleld, 
and  accepted  the  call  to  Paris  for  the 
rest  of  the  time,  moving  to  Paris  to 
live.  In  1858  he  came  to  Urbana  as 
Pastor,  and  remained  eleven  years. 
Then  he  moved  to  Champaign,  where 
he  built  their  first  house  of  worship, 
raising  most  of  the  money  himself, 
and  giving  largely  of  his  own  means. 
He  returned  to  Urbana  in  1872,  re- 
mained two  years,  then  went  to  In- 
dianapolis two  years,  then  to  Paris 
till  1879,  then  back  to  Urbana,  where 
he  spent  the  sunset  of  his  life.  His 
summons  came  August  18,  1881. 

Over  the  entire  field  of  the  Bloom - 
field  Association,  which  he  organized, 
his  influence  is  still  felt,  though  it  is 
100  years  since  he  was  born,  and  a 
generation  since  he  'fell  on  sleep." 
He  was  honored  by  his  brethren  with 
the  office  of  Moderator,  25  years  in  all. 
He  was  elected  for  15  years  consecu- 
tively (184G-18G1). 

He  was  also  appointed  to  preach 
the  Association  Sermon  on  8  different 
occasions.  His  two  sons,  N.  A.  and 


12 


Ozias,  are  still  with  us  with  prospects 
of  many  years  to  remain.  His  noble 
wife  did  not  leave  the  scenes  of  her 
long  term  of  life  until  her  92nd  year. 
Your  Committee  take  delight  in  pre- 
senting her  picture  as  it  was  taken  on 
her  92nd  birthday. 


Mrs.    Bethire    Riley 


Mrs.     Bethire     Riley 

The  wife  of  Elder  G.  W.  Riley  was 
born  in  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  July 
23,  1812.  At  ten  years  of  age  she 
moved  to  Clairmont,  Ohio,  and  lived 
there  till  1833,  when  she  was  married 
to  Elder  Riley.  They  moved  to 
Paris,  Illinois,  where  he  was -Pastor. 
In  1859  they  came  to  Urbana.  She 
was  in  her  92nd  year  when  her  sum- 
mons came,  and  was  the  oldest  mem- 
ber in  the  church.  Her"  judgment  in 
church  matters  was  always  safe  and 
good.  N.  A.  and  Ozias  Riley,  her 
sons,  still  survive  her.  She  was  a 
woman  of  fine  intellect,  and  kept  stor- 
ing her  mind  with  useful  knowledge 
to  the  very  last.  Her  home  was  the 
stopping  place  of  every  traveling 
Baptist  among  the  old  settlers,  in 
the  olden  time.  Her  later  days  were 
surrounded  by  every  luxury  and  care, 
and  yet  she  often  reverted  to  her 
early  life  in  the  little  old  log  house, 
in  which  she  began  building  her 
home,  as  her  happiest  days.  Even 
these  sweet  old  memories  are  now 
eclipsed  by  her  present  "house  not 
made  with  hands  eternal  in  the  heav- 
ens." 


CHAPTER  III. 
MEDIAN  HISTORY 

"A  nameless  man  amid  the  crowd 

That  thronged  the  daily  mart, 
L,et  fall  the  words  of  hope  and  love. 

Unstudied  from  the  heart, 
A  whisper  on  the  tumult  thrown, 

A  transitory  breath, — 
It  raised  a  brother  from  the  dust. 
It  saved  a   soul   from   death, 
O  germ!  O  fount!   O  word  of  love! 

O  thought  at  random  cast! 
Ye  were  but  little  at  the  first, 

Yet  mighty  at  the  last." 


— o — 


On  February  2nd,  1870,  Elder  G.  W. 
Riley  was  again  recalled  for  a  third 
time  as  Pastor,  and  during  his  min- 
istry the  church  was  harmonized  and 


united,  and  a  considerable  number 
added.  On  the  10th  day  of  November, 
1872,  Elder  D.  F.  Carnahan  was  call- 
ed as  pastor,  who  did  much  to  build 


13 


up,  and  indoctrinate  the  church  in  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  Bible, 
and  during  his  ministration,  which 
continued  until  August  30th,  1874, 
many  souls  were  added  to  the  church. 
The  church  parted  with  Elder  Carna- 
han  and  his  estimable  wife  with  great 
regret. 

Rev.   D.    F.  Carnahan 

The  Historic  Committee  delights  to 
le  able  to  perpetuate  his  memory  and 
present  his  genial  face  to  the  church 
of  coming  generations. 


Rev.   D.   F.  Carnahan 

Born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1825  and 
buried  from  his  home  in  Champaign, 
111.,  Sept.  16th,  1894,  on  his  69th  birth- 
day. Such  is  the  beginning  and  end- 
ing of  one  of  God's  noblest  men.  He 
began  his  work  as  a  teacher.  He  was 
baptized  March  14,  1847,  at  Whitehall, 
Pa.  He  was  licensed  in  1849  and  or- 
dained Sept.  25th,  1852,  at  Bridge- 
port, Pa.  He  began  with  15  members, 
and  in  a  short  period  left  135  mem- 
bers, and  in  1856  went  to  Calvary 
Baptist  church,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  No- 
vember, 1856  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  for 


three  years  was  agent  of  the  Ohio 
Baptist  convention.  In  1859  he  be- 
came pastor  at  Zanesville,  Ohio.  He 
then  entered  military  service,  became 
major  of  the  79th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
saw  some  active  service.  A  part  of 
this  time  he  was  in  command  of  his 
regiment.  He  entered  the  army  hop- 
ing to  be  able  to  do  a  good  service 
by  preaching  to  the  soldiers,  but  his 
expectations  were  not  realized  and  he 
resigned.  Dayton,  Ohio;  Burlington, 
Iowa,  and  Aurora,  111.,  enjoyed  his  la- 
bors as  pastor.  He  was  Superintend- 
ent of  Missions  in  Illinois  (1868). 

Springfield,  Urbana,  Nov.  10,  1872- 
Aug.  30,  1874,  Dixon,  Streator,  Illi- 
nois and  Appleton,  Wis.,  were  also 
blessed  by  his  labors  among  them. 
In  1887  he  began  what  proved  to  be 
his  last  labor  of  love  and  service.  He 
engaged  in  the  work  of  the  "Chil- 
dren's Home  Society,"  helping  to 
bring  "childless  homes,  and  home- 
less children  together."  In  connec- 
tion with  this  work  he  made  over 
2,500  addresses,  often  making  five,  or 
six  on  a  Cunday.  He  was  a  peace- 
maker in  all  the  churches  with  a  pe- 
culiar aptness  to  harmonize  conflict- 
ing elements. 

His  last  illness  was  for  fourteen 
long,  painful  months,  during  which 
for  a  part  of  the  time  his  sufferings 
were  acute.  His  faith  was  uncloud- 
ed, his  resignation  was  unmurmur- 
ing. In  a  private  letter  to  a  friend 
soon  after  beginning  the  work  of  the 
Children's  Home,  he  says,  "I  never 
missed  preaching  but  three  times  in 
35  years  on  account  of  sickness.  I 
have  been  favored  with  excellent 
health.  Life  has  had  but  few  trials. 
My  brethren  have  showed  me  from  the 
beginning,  especial  honors,  really 
more  than  I  deserve,  and  my  heart 
clings  to  them  with  very  tender 
Christian  love.  I  am  ready  when  the 
Master  calls,  and  most  gladly  would  I 
welcome  his  coming  for  his  saints." 


14 


I    would    that    thus    when    I   shall    see 
The  hour  of  death  draws  near  to  me, 
Hope,  blossoming  within  my  heart, 
May  look  to  heaven  as  I  depart." 


Rev.   W.    H.   Stedman,    D.D. 


Rev.   W.    H.    Stedman,    D.D. 

February  10th,  1875,  Rev.  W.  H. 
Stedman  was  called  as  pastor,  and 
began  bis  work  by  developing  the 
energies  of  the  church,  and  by  mak- 
ing out  a  list  of  all  available  active 
members,  which  scarcely  reached 
one  hundred,  regarding  these  as  the 
cbnrch,  and  relying  on  the  power  of 
Pod,  he  went  forward  in  the  work,  and 
God  owned,  and  blessed  their  united 
efforts  in  the  salvation  of  many  souls. 

Up  to  the  fall  of  1878  one  hundred 
and  ninety  were  added  to  the  church. 
One  hundred  and  thirty  by  baptism, 
and  sixty  by  letter.  The  strong  point 
In  his  ministry  was  the  indoctrination 
of  the  members  in  Bible  teaching, 
with  a  view  to  practical  work.  L.  A. 
McLean,  Ozias  Riley,  Allen  McClain, 
William  Hawker,  and  others  went  to 
Centennial,  Blackberry,  Somers,  Lev- 
erett  and  Star  school  houses,  and  con- 
ducted services.  The  services  in  the 
Centennial  school  house  resulted  In  the 


year  187G  in  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Centennial  church.  At  the  Star 
school  house  more  or  less  regular  ser- 
vices were  held,  and  some  valuable 
accessions  came  from  that  work  into 
the  First  Church.  In  1878  Elder  Sted- 
man, aby  assisted  by  Deacon  Allen 
McClain,  held  a  meeting  in  the  Cen- 
tennial school  house,  when  about  GO 
were  united  to  the  church,  nearly  all 
by  baptism.  During  the  winter  of 
1879  the  school  house  was  closed 
against  the  brethren,  and  Rev.  Sted- 
man. Deacon  Myers,  F.  P.  Apperson, 
Deacon  Allen  McClain.  and  others,  at 
once  set  to  work  and  succeded  in 
building  and  paying  for  a  comfortable 
church  building,  capable  of  holding 
about  three  hundred.  Deacon  Allan 
McClain  took  charge  of  this  work,  and 
under  his  administration  several  re- 
vivals were  held,  and  a  large  number 
were  added  to  the  church.  On  the 
5th  day  of  February,  187G,  he  was  v 
elected  Deacon,  and  the  Lord  blesse  1 
him  in  his  office  as  Deacon,  and  also 
gave  him  power  to  preach  the  gospel. 
In  the  home  church  the  congregations 
grew  too  large  for  the  seating  ca- 
pacity of  the  house,  and  in  187G  a 
vestry  was  added  to  the  meeting 
house,  costing  about  $850,  which  add- 
ed greatly  to  the  convenience  of  the 
church,  and  Sunday  school.  Elder 
Stedman  has  through  the  church  ap- 
pointed Missionary  Committees  who 
do  the  collecting,  saving  the  expense 
of  representatives  of  the  different  so  • 
cieties  visiting  the  church.  Tract  and 
Visiting  Committees  have  been  ap  • 
pointed,  and  the  energies  of  the 
church  being  thus  developed  souls 
were  saved  and  much  good  done. 

On  January  8th,  1879,  a  committee 
consisting  of  Amanda  M.  Allen,  Mrs. 
CJlasgo,  and  Mary  L.  Perry  reported 
that  they  had  visited  123  places  and 
distributed  143  tracts.  March  15th, 
1879,  twenty-three  were  present  at 
the  prayer  meeting  and  nearly  all  par- 
ticipated in  the  Covenant  Services.  At 


15 


that  meeting  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  was  recommended,  and  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  see  every  member. 
April  5th,  1879,  the  Tract  Committee 
reported  90  places  visited,  and  252 
tracts  distributed.  This  committee 
also  reported  the  salvation  of  some 
souls  as  a  result  of  their  Tract  work. 
September  3rd,  1880,  a  member  was 
excluded  for  two  reasons  (1)  presist- 
ent  failure  to  keep  her  covenant,  and 
(2)  keeping  company  with  depraved 
characters. 

February  4th,  1881,  the  salary  of 
pastor  was  increased  to  one  thousand 
dollars  per  year.  April  1st,  1881,  a 
committee  reported  active  members, 
234;  delinquent,  1C;  non-resident, 
45;  total,  295.  July  7th,  1881,  the 
Lords'  Supper  was  observed  in  the 
evening.  March  5th,  1882,  Elder  Sted- 
man  resigned  and  the  church  accepted 
the  resignation.  His  resignation  was 
greatly  regretted  by  the  church,  and 
the  whole  community.  He  has  re- 
mained in  the  state,  holding  important 
pastorates,  and  is  a  frequent,  and  wel- 
corr.e  visitor  at  the  old  First  church, 
and  he  is  now  a  citizen  among  us,  and 
will  have  a  part  in  the  observance  of 
our  Seventy-fifth  Anniversary. 

In  18G7,  while  a  student  at  Shurt- 
leff  College,  Elder  Steadman  began 
to  develop  his  building  specialty,  by 
organizing  the  First  Baptist  church  of 
Shelbyville,  111.,  and  in  18G9  building 
their  present  meeting  hcuse.  While  in 
Detroit,  Mich.,  his  church  establish- 
ed two  mission  Sunday  schools,  each 
soon  becoming  an  independent  Bap- 
tist church,  and  each  was  provided 
with  good,  substantial  buildings. 
While  he  was  pastor  the  home  church 
secured  its  present  site  on  Grand 
River  avenue,  and  erected  its  splen- 
did house.  February  10,  1875,  he  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Urbana,  111.  In 
connection  with  his  work  here  he 
built  the  Centennial  Meeting  house  in 


1879,  and  added  a  large  vestry  to  the 
building  of  the  First  Church.  In  1894 
he  became  pastor  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  of  Champaign,  111.,  and 
while  there  built  their  present  splen- 
did house  of  worship,  and  also  the 
parsonage.  After  leaving  Champaign 
he  organized  the  Villa  Grove  church, 
and  built  its  meeting  house,  and  at 
Arcola,  and  Arthur  he  built  substan- 
tial churches,  and  paid  for  them.  In 
the  year  1885  Shurtleff  College  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  honorary  title  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity.  His  old  friends 
in  and  around  Urbana,  and  Cham- 
paign, delight  to  do  him  honor,  and 
are  ever  interested  to  hear  him,  when 
he  is  present  in  any  of  the  churches. 
He  has  never  lost  his  interest  in  Cen- 
tennial, and  the  other  Missions  of  his 
ministry.  The  Historical  Committee 
will  anticipate  the  program  of  our 
15th  Anniversary  to  record  that  Dr. 
W.  H.  Steadman  will  have  a  large  and 
prominent  share  in  its  exercises.  What 
a  joy  it  must  be  to  him  to  stand  by 
the  side  of  the  road,  and  'see  the  old 
procession  file  slowly  out,  and  the  ne^v 
file  hurriedly  in,  to  take  the  reins  and 
direct  the  affairs  of  the  church  in 
which  he  has  put  so  much  red  blood, 
and  careful  teaching,  and  prayers. 
May  he  not  be  called  away  till  a  new 
and  better  day  than  any  of  us  have 
ever  seen,  dawns  on  the  old  church, 
and  her  great  and  scattered  member- 
ship. Dr.  Steadman  has  been  honored 
by  his  brethren  of  the  Bloomfield  As- 
sociation, preaching  its  annual  sermon 
in  1876  and  1897.  He  was  elected 
moderator  in  1878,  1879.  1881,  1903  to 
19]  1.  He  also  saw  considerable  ser- 
vice in  the  civil  war. 

Rev.  G.   M.  Shott 

Sunday,  April  Gth,  1882,  the  church 
voted  a  unanimous  call  to  Rev.  G.  M. 
Shott  of  Newport,  Ky.,  to  become  pas- 
tor for  one  year,  dating  from  May  1st 
at  a  salary  of  $800  and  parsonage. 
Elder  Shott  was  young  and  inexperi- 


16 


Rev.  G.   M.  Shott 

euced,  and  delicate  in  health.  He  was 
an  eloquent  speaker  possessed  of 
more  than  ordinary  push,  and  enter- 
prise, and  soon  had  the  church  crowd- 
ed at  each  service.  He  was  an  earn- 
est worker,  his  sermons  were  filled 
with  love,  as  well  as  the  gospel,  which 
awakened  sinners,  and  made  it  ex- 
ceedingly uncomfortaDle  for  the  easy- 
going class  of  Christians.  The  result 
was  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was 
soon  visible,  and  a  revival  of  his  work 
was  begun,  and  a  largo  number  add- 
ed to  the  church.  The  members  be- 
came wide-awake,  and  active  in 
church  work,  and  by  discipline  brought 
the  standards  to  a  very  high  pitch. 

August  2nd.  1882.  a  proposition  was 
made  by  the  Pastor  to  remodel  the 
church,  and  on  December  4,  '82,  the 
cost  was  reported  at  $385.71.  August 
30th,  1882,  a  motion  was  carried  to 
commune  once  per  month.  September 
27th,  1882.  John  Carman  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  and  preached 
his  first  sermon.  About  the  same 
time  Augustus  Carman  returned  from 


Rochester,  and  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon. December  4th,  1882,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  raise  the  salary 
of  the  pastor.  Twenty  persons  consti- 
tuted that  Committee,  and  pledged 
themselves  to  give,  or  raise  $30.00 
apiece. 

The  salary  was  raised  to  $1,000  be- 
ginning with  January  1,  1883.  Jan- 
uary 7th,  1883,  a  special  meeting  was 
begun,  the  pastor  doing  most  of  the 
preaching.  Rev.  R.  E.  Carney  of  To- 
lono,  an  old  college  mate  of  the  p3&l°r> 
was  called  in  to  help  during  the  most 
exacting  part  of  the  meeting.  This 
meeting  continued  with  two,  and  three 
meetings  per  day,  until  April  ICth, 
1883.  February  15th,  the  pastor  was 
given  power  to  appoint  committees  to 
aid  in  the  examination,  and  indoc- 
trination of  candidates  i'or  bantisrn 
Nearly  four  hundred  persons  (includ- 
ing duplications)  were  used  during 
the  meetings,  with  a  powerful  reflex 
benefit  to  the  whole  church.  OI 
course,  the  deacons  and  some  of  their 
v.ives  were  in  almost  all  the  commit- 
tee meetings,  el 'aeon  Knowlton  of 
the  .Champaign  church  was  frequent- 
ly in  the  services,  aa  i  was  asked  to 
give  his  counsel,  and  heio  in  this  work. 

During  this  period  158  professed  a 
hope  in  Christ,  and  all  united  with  the 
church  by  baptism.  A  few  not  count- 
ed in  the  above  made  profession  and 
united  elsewhere.  Most  of  these  con- 
verts were  carefully  taught  before 
they  were  brought  into  the  church.  A 
special  fund  was  provided  to  purchase 
Keat's  catechism  for  converts.  June 
27th,  1883  the  "Star  Book"  was  adopt- 
ed as  the  Manual  of  the  church.  There 
has  never  been  a  change  made  in  the 
Manual.  Resolutions  have  been  pass- 
ed which  clearly  set  forth  the  same 
principles  though  couched  in  different 
phrase.  The  Manual  seems  to  have 
teen  forgotten  during  many  long  per- 
iods of  the  life  of  the  church.  June 
13th,  1883,  it  was  learned  that  the 
Ranton1  church,  which  hart  invited  tte 


17 


Bloomfield  Association  to  meet  with 
them  could  not  entertain  it,  and  the 
Urbana  Church  immediately  sent  an 
invitation  to  meet  with  them.  Some 
new  features  were  introduced  in  this 
meeting  and  will  be  noted  at  the 
proper  place. 

By  action  of  the  church  August  22nd 
a  corrected  list  of  members  was  print- 
ed, and  sent  out  to  all  members. 

October  3rd,  18S3,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  devise  a  systematic  plan 
for  meeting  the  expense  of  the  coming 
year,  and  when  it  reported  November 
28th,  the  third  point  in  their  recom- 
mendations read,  "the  Pastor's  salary 
shall  be  advanced  in  proportion  to  the 
increase  of  membership,  and  subscrip- 
tion, by  reason  of  revival,  or  other- 
wise. "Their  eighth  point  reads 
"The  Treasurer  shall  keep  an  accur- 
ate account  with  each  member  sub- 
scribing, and  shall  on  tbe  first  of  each 
quarter  send  a  statement  to  all  who 
are  in  arrearage."  The  ninth  point 
reads,  "We  recommend  the  plan  of 
weekly  payments  as  far  as  possible." 
The  tenth  reads,  "Every  member  of 
the  church  shall  be  expetced  to  make  a 
subscription."  January  2nd,  1884,  it 
was  significant  of  the  times  that  we 
should  find  a  young  brother  rising  in 
the  Covenant  Meeting,  and  making  a 
statement  to  the  effect  that  "a  short 
time  since  he  had  allowed  himself  to 
yieM  to  his  temper  and  was  sorry  that 
by  so  doing  he  had  brought  reproach 
upon  the  church."  On  motion  he  was 
restored  to  full  fellowship,  and  the 
confidence  of  the  brethren.  In  the 
same  meeting  another  well-known 
brother  offered  a  written  confession  of 
considerable  length  detailing  his  mis- 
doings and  asking  the  church  for  for- 
giveness. He  also  was  restored  to 
full  fellowship  and  confidence  by  a 
special  vote.  A  third  person  made 
similar  statements,  and  was  restored. 
February  6th,  1884,  a  young  sister  con- 
fessed her  sorrow  on  account  of  at- 
tendance, and  participation  in  a  dance. 


The  church  by  motion  accepted  her 
confession,  and  restored  her  to  fel- 
lowship in  the  church.  At  that  meet- 
ing differences  of  opinion  in  the 
church  were  very  frankly  confessed  as 
shown  by  a  ballot  which  had  to  be 
taken  the  sixth  time  before  a  full 
Board  of  Deacons  could  be  elected. 

When  the  full  complement  was 
elected  the  Pastor  gave  the  hand  of 
fellowship  to  the  new  Board.  March 
5th,  1884,  the  principle  of  taking  an 
offering  at  each  Communion  service 
was  established.  May  7th,  1884,  the 
Communion  service  was  changed  back 
to  once  in  two  months. 

May  22nd,  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott  offered 
his  resignation,  giving  as  his  reasons 
the  sickness  of  Mrs.  Shott  and  the 
two  children.  During  his  Pastorate 
1G5  were  baptized,  33  taken  in  by  let- 
ter and  experience,  leaving  the  roll 
378.  Much  of  his  work  was  done 
among  the  young  people,  who  were 
receiving  a  good  training  in  Bible 
study  through  the  work  of  the  Y.  C.  A. 
established  by  John  Carman,  and  the 
excellent  work  of  Elder  Steadman. 
However,  the  average  age  of  the  con- 
verts of  Elder  Shott's  ministry  was 
23  years.  Many  thought  he  ought  to 
stay  longer,  and  take  care  of  this 
large  body  of  young  members.  He 
removed  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  where 
for  some  time  the  health  of  Mrs.  Shott 
and  the  children  was  improved. 

Mrs.  Shott  never  completely  recov- 
ered from  the  malarial  effects  of  this 
climate,  which  gave  rheumatism,  and 
heart  trouble,  from  which  after  eight 
years  of  invalidism  she  went  to  her 
reward,  October  31st,  1891,  loved  and 
honored  by  all  who  ever  knew  her. 
Three  daughters  survive  her  and  one 
went  ahead  to  welcome  her  home. 
The  last  service  of  the  ministry  of 
Elder  Shott  was  the  ordination  of  Dea- 
cons S.  S.  Hall,  G.  A.  Walker,  N..  A. 
Riiey,  F.  M.  Snyder,  J.  W.  Cushman, 
and  J.  P.  Blue.  The  ordaining  prayer 
was  offered  by  Elder  S.  F.  Gleason, 


18 


the  charge  to  the  deacons  by  Elder 
R.  B.  Carney,  the  charge  to  the  church 
by  Elder  G.  M.  Shott.  The  service  of 
laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presby- 
tery was  very  impressive  and  left  a 
higher  ideal  of  Deaconship.  At  the 
close  of  this  service  accompanied  by 
many  of  the  congregation  Elder  Shott 
and  family  took  tte  train  for  the 
scenes  of  their  labors  in  the  "Little 
Mountain  State,"  little  thinking  that 
after  a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years 
he  would  return  to  take  up  his  un- 
finished work. 

He  was  born  in  Staunton,  Virginia, 
and  received  his  first  impression  of  a 
religious  character  from  the  Episco- 
palians. His  family  were  all  Baptists 
with  few  exceptions.  Later,  he  was 
greatly  influenced  by  Rev.  G.  B.  Tay- 
lor, D.D.,  the  great  Batpist  mission- 
ary to  Rome.  He  took  his  high  school 
course  in  Staunton.  Baptized  January 
2nd,  1874.  Licensed  to  preach,  Sep- 
tember 13th,  1875.  Attended  college 
at  Richmond,  Va.  Preached  his  first 
sermon  in  Staunton,  July  23rd,  1876. 
Studied  theology  in  the  Southern  Bap- 
tist Thelogfaal  Seminary  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  under  the  famous  Dr.  Broadus, 
Dr.  Boyce,  Dr.  Toy,  Dr.  Whitsitt. 
While  a  student  in  the  Seminary  he 
was  employed  as  city  missionary  in 
Louisville,  where  was  organized  the 
first  Sunday  Schools  that  have  now 
become  such  a  net  work  of  missions, 
and  churches.  His  first  pastorate 
was  a  brief  one  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  at  Hawesvil'e,  Ky.  This  church 
asked  for  his  ordination,  which  was 
held  in  the  Walnut  Street  Baptist 
Church  in  Louisville,  Ky.  July  31st, 
1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  J. 
Knight  of  Louisville,  Ky.  From 
Hawesville  he  was  soon  called  to  be- 
come (he  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of 
Newport,  Ky.  From  Newport,  Ky.,  he 
came  to  Urbana.  From  Urbana  he 
went  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  At  Hawes- 
ville he  held  a  great  revival  meeting 
greatly  strengthening  the  old  church. 


At  Newport  he  secured  a  new  and 
commodious  church  building  in  the 
center  of  the  town,  where  it  still  re- 
mains. A  new  parsonage  and  free- 
dom from  state  convention  support. 
The  chief  thing  done  here  in  Urbana 
was  to  lead  in  a  great  revival.  At 
Wheeling  a  heavy  debt  was  paid.  At 
First  Church,  Zanesville,  the. church 
was  thoroughly  repaired  and  renovat- 
ed. At  Dayton  street,  Cincinnati,  O., 
a  new  church  was  organized  and 
made  independent.  At  Madisonvil!e 
the  church  house  burned,  and  a  new 
fireproof  house  was  built.  From  Mad- 
isonville  he  was  called  to  Fairmount, 
W.  Va.,  to  undertake  the  task  of  or- 
ganizing a  new  local  church,  and 
building  its  edifice.  This  was  accom- 
plished in  less  than  three  years.  Much 
of  the  house  was  built  by  his  own 
hands.  Scarcely  had  the  Fairmont 
work  been  launched  when  a  flattering 
call  came  from  North  Church,  New 
York  City,  where  he  had  wide  experi- 
ences in  preaching  and  lecturing  in 
almost  all  the  great  churches  of  the 
city  ,and  many  of  the  noted  churches 
in  New  England.  He  left  as  his  me- 
morial in  the  North  Church  an  en- 
dowment that  ensures  a  church  there 
forever.  Thence  to  the  Old  Historic 
Scotch  Plains  church,  where  he  had 
his  longest,  and  most  tedious  Pastor- 
ate. It  was  an  endowed  church  with 
great  wealth,  and  a  small  membership 
with  limited  population.  From  this 
church  he  was  called  to  Lyons  Farms 
Church,  Newark,  N.  J..  a  daughter  of 
Scotch  Plains,  where  he  held  a  very 
successful  revival,  removed  the  old 
church  building,  and  erected  a  new  one 
of  splendid  dimensions,  doing  much  of 
the  work  with  his  own  hands.  A  break 
down  of  nerves,  and  a  siege  of  chills 
drove  him  back  to  the  mountains  of 
West  Virginia,  to  Mannington,  where 
in  a  few  months  his  usual  powers  of 
endurance  were  recovered,  and  he 
held  meetings  in  his  own,  and  many 
neighboring  churches  with  great  ac- 


19 


ceptance  and  in  most  cases  success. 
Oakmont,  Pa.,  made  him  a  flattering 
offer  ,and  after  considering  it  for  a 
few  weeks,  he  accepted  a  call,  and  was 
succeeding  admirably,  having  paid  off 
all  debts  and  led  in  a  great  neighbor- 
hood revival  of  very  wide  influence 
and  power  when  he  was  recalled  to 
Urbana,  August,  1912.  The  last  ser- 
vice at  Oakmont  was  the  burning  of 
the  last  notes,  and  mortgages  and  the 
freeing  of  the  church  from  debt  for 
the  first  time  in  its  history.  He  will 
observe  his  37th  ministerial  anniver- 
sary July  23.  He  has  preached  5,406 
sermons,  and  written  much  for  the 
press.  June,  1913,  Ewing  College  con- 
ferred the  honorory  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity.  L.  A.  McLean. 


Deacon  G.  A.  Walker 


George  A.  Walker 

This  woll-known  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  was  born  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parents  in  Deering,  New  Hamp- 
shire, December  13,  1832.  Early  in 


life  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Tre- 
mont,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  his 
early  years.  He  had  a  common  school 
and  academic  education,  but  the 
death  of  his  father  threw  the  care  of 
the  family  upon  him  at  a  very  early 
age,  and  his  further  improvement  of 
mind  must  be  done  on  his  own  re- 
sources. He  always  found  time  to 
read,  and  store  his  active  mind  with 
useful  knowledge.  He  knew  his  Bi- 
ble well,  and  became  a  very  accurate 
and  helpful  teacher,  and  many  are 
teaching  now  who  had  their  first  les- 
sons from  him.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Experience  Drake  of  Delavan, 
Illinois,  in  1868.  She  was  a  true  and 
devoted  helpmeet  of  deep  piety  and 
unselfish  life.  She  died  July  19th, 
1884.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Porter  of  Urbana,  June  9th,  1897.  He 
was  a  man  of  unusual  balance,  and 
had  a  strong  capacity  for  enduring 
friendships.  In  his  public  career  he 
valued  his  trusteeship  of  public  funds 
as  a  sacred  trust.  He  was  a  great 
lover  of  his  church,  and  was  an  hon- 
ored Deacon  for  many  years.  In  1871 
he  moved  to  his  farm  south  of  Ur- 
bana, where  he  lived  till  July  12th, 
1910,  when  he  moved  to  his  magnifi- 
cent High  street  house,  expecting  to 
have  time  for  a  larger  usefulness  to 
his  church.  July  18,  he  was  stricken 
with  paralysis,  and  the  death  angel 
hovered  till  he  was  released  Novem- 
ber 7th,  1910.  His  widow  still  sur- 
vives him,  and  is  a  member  of  this 
Historical  Committee  seeking  in  the 
sunset  glow  to  honor  his  memory, 
and  that  of  many  others,  whom  she 
has  known  and  loved  in  the  long  ago. 

"Think  of  me  as  withdrawn  into  the 

dimness, 
Yours   still — you   mine,   remember  all 

the  best 

Of  our  past  moments,  forget  the  rest, 
And  so  to  where  I  wait,  come  gently 

on.;> 


20 


Rev.   E.  C.  Sage,  Ph.D. 
June  15th,  1884,  a  formal  call  was 
extended  to  Rev.  B.  C.  Sage  of  Geneseo 
Falls,  Illinois,  to  become  Pastor.  July 
9th  we  find  Elder  Sage  presiding  as 
moderator   of   the    meeting   for   busi- 
ness.   June  14th,  1885,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  the  Centennial     Mission     for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  a  separate 
church.     August    2nd,    a    council    for 
recognition    was    called    to    recognize 
the   Centennial   Baptist   church.     Au- 
gust 9th,  1885,  the  Trustees  were  au- 
thorized to  deed  the  property  to  the 
Trustees  of  the     Centennial     Church. 
This    motion    was    rescinded    January 
4th,  1886.    December  Gth,  1885,  the  fi- 
nances,  both  on  Pastor's   salary,  and 
incidentals,  were  found   in   a  deplor- 
able condition,  and  a  motion  was  pass- 
ed recommending  that  an  apportion- 
ment be  made  to  each  member  sub- 
ject to  his,  or  her  approval.    January 
13th,  1886,  the  Finance  Committee  re- 
instruced    to    proceed     according     to 
their  own  judgment.     April  4th,  1886, 
it  was  determined  to  observe  the  or- 
dinance   of    the    Lord's    Supper    once 
per  month,  instead  of  quarterly.  Mon- 
day, April  5th,  1886,  Pastor  Sage  made 
a   report   of  work   done,   which   it   is 
good  should  be  reported  in  part."     A 
large  number  will  ever  look  back  to 
this  winter  as  the  date  of  their  birth 
into  the  kingdom   of  Christ.     Family 
altars    that    had    been    broken    down, 
have  been  repaired,  and  many  hearts 
and  homes  made  bright  by  Him  who 
is    the    Light    of    the    world.      While 
these   things   give   us   joy   our  hearts 
are  saddened  by  the  continued  apathy 
of  not  a  few.     The  habitual  absence 
of  strong  men  and  women  living  but 
a  few  blocks  from  the  church  sitting 
at  home  within  the  sound  of  the  bell, 
and   apparently   unconcerned   for    the 
salvation  of  dying  souls  around  them 
— these      things    cause      sadness    of 
heart."     At   the   close   of   this   excel- 
lent report  Elder  Sage  reports  the  to- 


tal membership  of  the  church  to  be 
357.  July  5th,  1886,  the  motion  con- 
cerning the  observance  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  rescinded  and  its  quar- 
-terly  observance  recommended.  Sep- 
tember 29th,  1886,  Pastor  Sage  pre- 
sented his  resignation  to  take  effect 
December  31st,  1886.  Elder  Sage  was 
an  earnest  Christian  man,  a  good 
speaker,  and  labored  faithfully  in  the 
Master's  cause.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
scholarship,  and  an  expert  Hebrew 
student.  When  he  resigned  it  was  to 
take  a  position  in  President  Harper's 
School  of  Hebrew,  and  to  take  a  post 
graduate  course  in  Yale  College,  New 
Haven.  During  his  pastorate  56  were 
added  to  the  church.  This  left  the 
number  of  church  enrollment  at  the 
close  of  his  work,  355. 
My  Dear  Mr.  Shott: 

Your  letter  of  June  20th  has  just 
now  reached  my  hand,  and  I  hasten  to 
reply.  I  regret  that  it  will  be  imprac- 
ticab'e  for  me  to  comply  with  your 
request  for  an  extended  review  of  my 
pastoral  experiences.  Mrs.  Sage  and 
I  start  for  Europe  tomorrow,  and  the 
few  hours  which  remain  before  sailing 
must  be  given  to  peparation  for  our 
long  journey. 

At  the  time  of  my  pastorate  in  Ur- 
bana  there  was  in  the  church  a  large 
body  of  strong,  mature,  and  influen- 
tial men  and  women,  whose  devotion 
to  the  Christian  cause  through  many 
years  had  made  the  church  what  it 
was,  and  whose  consecrated  services 
resulted  in  its  permanence  and 
growth.  I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of 
their  noble  lives.  Many  of  the  chil- 
dren of  those  influential  families  have 
developed  into  like-minded,  and  effi- 
cient Christian  workers,  and  are  now 
holding  important  positions  in  the 
business  and  educational  world. 

Mrs.  Sage  and  I  have  pleasant  rec- 
ollections of  the  cordial  reception  giv- 
en to  us  in  the  homes  in  and  about 
the  city,  making  our  pastoral  visits  a 


21 


constant  joy    and    a    sweet    remem- 
brance. 

Our  relation  to  the  other  Christian 
churches  of  the  city  and  community 
was  most  cordial.  In  my  long  experi- 
ence I  do  not  know  of  any  place 
where  I  have  lived  in  which  the  spir- 
it of  co-operation  has  been  more  de- 
lightfully manifest  than  in  Urbana  at 
the  time  of  our  residence  there. 

I  wish  you  would  convey  to  the 
Committee  in  whose  'behalf  you  have 
written  .and  also  to  the  entire  church 
membership  the  cordial  greetings  of 
Mrs.  Sage  and  myself  and  extend  to 
them  our  sincere  wishes  for  the  con- 
tinued usefulness  of  the  church  to  the 
community  and  to  the  greater  world. 
Very  truly  yours, 

E.  C.  SAGE. 

Dr.  Sage  is  abroad,  and  it  is  im- 
possible to  get  a  cut. 


December  1,  188G,  a  letter  was 
granted  to  Burritt  A.  Cushman  to  the 
North  Baptist  Church,  New  York 
City.  It  was  through  him  that  Rev. 
G.  M.  Shott  was  introduced  to  the 
North  Church,  and  was  at  once  called 
to  take  charge  of  that  old  historic 
church.  During  his  stay  in  and  around 
New  York  he  was  secretary  of  the 
Baptist  Ministers'  Conference  of  New 
York  City  for  twelve  consecutive 
years,  and  became  well-known 
throughout  the  denomination  as  well 
as  in  New  York.  B.  A.  Cushman  was 
in  the  Y.  C.  Association  when  Elder 
Shott  was  Pastor  of  Urbana.  What 
influences  one  exerts  is  never  known, 
and  may  not  be  known  till  it  is  seen 
in  the  undimmed  light  of  the  glory- 
land.  If  the  endowment  of  that  great 
old  church  during  the  Pastorate  of 
Elder  Shott  is  of  any  special  value  to 
the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  it  must  be 
shared  with  B.  A.  Cushman  in  the 
final  reckoning,  and  also  with  this 
church. 


Rev.  F.  J.  Leavitt 

June  1st,  1887,  a  call  was  extended 
to  Rev.  F.  J.  Leavitt  of  Plattsburgh, 
Mo.,  to  become  Pastor.  He  accepted 
August  1st,  1887.  Elder  Leavitt  was 
an  earnest  and  interesting  speaker, 
evidencing  the  truth  of  his  teachings 
by  his  daily  life,  and  possessed  the 
unanimous  esteem  of  the  church,  and 
community.  The  church  by  judicious 
discipline  reduced  the  number  of  its 
members  about  50,  leaving  the  mem- 
bership 298,  although  the  active  work- 
ing membership  would  not  exceed  175. 
May  4th,  '89,  Pastor  Leavitt  resigned. 
June  5th,  1889,  the  Advisory  Commit- 
tee requested  the  Pastor  to  withdraw 
his  resignation.  June  19th,  1889,  the 
resignation  of  Pastor  Leavitt  was  ac- 
cepted. 

Rev.  F.  J.  Leavitt  writes  from  Leav- 
enworth,  Kansas,  where  he  is  State 
Prison  Chaplin:  "So  many  years 
have  gone  by  since  I  left  your  city 
that  it  is  difficult  to  recall  my  experi- 
ence with  the  church  as  I  would  like. 

My  pastorate  there  began  in  August, 


1887,  and  continued  two  years.  The 
church  was  united,  hopeful,  enthus- 
iastic; the  membership  large,  com- 
posed of  many  excellent  people.  The 
pastor's  leadership  was  recognized  and 
a  disposition  to  follow  him  shown. 
The  Sunday  services  brought  out  good 
congregations,  generally  speaking. 

The  teaching  service,  or  Sunday 
School  was  in  the"  hands  of  good  offi- 
cers, and  faithful  teachers.  The 
teachers'  meetings  were  the  best  I 
have  seen  anywhere.  Quite  a  goodly 
number  attended  the  prayer  meetings, 
several  usually  taking  part.  The 
young  people  were  loyal  to  the  pastor, 
and  church. 


The  first  year  saw  progress,  several 
leing  added  to  the  church.  A  meeting 
developing  considerable  interest  was 
held  either  the  first  or  second  year, 
which  resulted  in  several  additions  to 
the  church,  mostly  young  people.  I 
was  assisted  in  that  meeting  by  Rev. 
William  Bilbro,  then  of  Missouri. 

My  brief  stay  with  that  people  was 
in  the  main  very  pleasant,  and  I  al- 
ways read  with  much  interest  any- 
thing I  see  concerning  the  church. 
The  body  of  our  little  boy  lies  in  the 
cemetery  there,  and  this  makes  Ur- 
bana  very  dear  to  us. 

Sincerely  yours, 

F.  J.  Leavitt. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
PRESENT  HISTORY 


"  Not  enjoyment  and  not  sorrow, 
Is  our  destined  end  or  way, 

But  to  act.  that  each  tomorrow 
Find  us  farther  than  today. 

Act — act  in  the  living:  present! 

Heart  within  and  God  o'er  head." 


Rev.  W.  W.  Smith 

August  28th,  1889,  a  call  was  extend- 
ed to  Rev.  W.  W.  Smith  to  become 
Pastor.  He  accepted  the  call.  Decem- 
ber 4th,  1890,  revival  services  were 
begun  by  Evangelist  Dillard,  and  con- 
tinued till  the  19th  of  same  month. 
February  25th,  1891,  a  resolution  was 
passed  in  reference  to  some  humiliat- 
ing trials  to  which  the  Pastor  had 
been  subjected.  "Whereas,  Our  be- 
loved Pastor,  Rev.  W.  W.  Smith,  has 
recently  become  the  victim  of  ma- 
licious slander  at  the  instigation  of 
,  who  on  the  23rd  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1891,  was  dismissed  from  the 
church  for  violation  of  her  covenant 
obligations,  and  Whereas,  he  has 
been  compelled  to  take  his  place  as 
defendant  during  a  most  critical  in- 
vestigation of  the  charges  preferred 


against  him,  and  from  which  he 
emerged  without  a  stain  upon  his 
character  as  a  gentleman,  and  Chris- 
tian; therefore,  be  it  Resolved;  that 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Urbana  re- 
gard this  persecution  of  its  Pastor  as 
a  tissue  of  falsehoods  from  beginning 
to  end,  emanating  only  from  a  vile, 
revengeful  heart,  having  but  one 
thought,  viz.,  seeking  to  bring  re- 
proach upon  the  Pastor,  the  church, 
and  the  cause  of  Christ.  Resolved;  that 
this  church  holds  in  utter  contempt 
this  proceeding  against  Mr.  Smith, 
and  heartily  join  with  the  Court,  and 
the  public  at  large  in  his  thorough 
vindication.  Resolved,  that  we  will 
stand  by  our  Pastor  as  a  church  and 
give  him  a  hearty  and  united  support 
in  his  Christian  work."  These  reso- 
lutions were  unanimously  adopted  by 
a  rising  vote. 


23 


June  3rd,  1891,  Pastor  Smith  resign- 
ed, and  his  resignation  was  accepted. 
Wednesday,  August  12th,  1891,  Elder 
C>.  M.  Shott,  a  former  Pastor,  being 
on  a  visit,  was  asked  to  administer 
the  ordinance  of  Baptism,  which  he 
did  for  Brother  Charles  Mullendorf. 


Rev.  J.   W.    Primm 


November  1st,  1S91,  Rev.  J.  W.  Primm 
was  called  as  Pastor,  and  began  his 
work  November  15th,  1891.  Decemter 
30th,  1891,  the  Communion  was  chang- 
ed to  first  Sunday  in  each  quarter. 
October  2nd,  1892,  Rev.  J.  W.  Primm 
resigned  in  words  expressing  the 
highest  type  of  Christian  gentleman 
and  scholar.  Things  had  entered 
into  the  relations  of  his  work  that 
had  materially  affected  his  work,  and 
he  sincerely  thought  he  ought  to  sever 
his  connection  as  Pastor.  His  resig- 
nation is  as  fol'ows,  "When  I  came 
among  yon  a  few  months  ago  I  hoped 
for  brighter  days,  but  instead  the 
darkening  cloud  has  grown  more 
dense,  and  has  now  burst  in  fury  upon 


me.  "The  heart  knoweth  its  own  bit- 
terness," and  I  would  not  have  you 
suffer  with  me  or  on  my  account.  For 
myself  and  family  I  ask  your  most 
earnest  prayers.  May  God  grant  to 
you  all,  the  guidance  of  his  Spirit  and 
the  riches  of  his  grace." 

The  resignation  was  accepted,  and 
the  following  resolutions  passed: 

"Whereas,  Rev.  J.  W.  Primm  has 
tendered  his  resignation  as  Pastor  of 
this  church  to  depart  for  another 
field,  therefore,  be  it  resolved,  that  we 
recognize  in  Brother  Primm  an  earn- 
est Christian  man,  and  an  able  Pas- 
tor, and  that  it  is  with  regret  that  we* 
accept  his  resignation.  That  we 
tender  ihim  our  prayers,  and  'best 
wishes  for  abundant  success  in  what- 
ever field  of  labor  he  may  be  called." 

This  honored  servant  of  God  was 
born  in  Belleville,  November  17,  1848, 
He  was  for  some  time  vice-president 
of  the  Beekeepers'  Association,  in 
which  business  he  was  an  acknowl- 
edgd  authority.  He  was  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  of  Urbana  for  a 
short  time,  and  atferwards  also  of 
Herald  of  Hope  for  a  short  time.  To- 
wards the  latter  part  of  1912  he  began 
to  fail,  and  slowly  yielded  to  his  last 
enemy,  April  16,  1913,  at  the  age  of 
G5,  having  been  in  the  ministry  45 
years. 

He  was  scholarly  and  exact  in  his 
preaching,  and  an  able  preacher  of 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 


Rev.  J.   F.    Mills,   Ph.D. 

December  18th,  1892,  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills 
was  called  to  the  vacant  Pastorate, 
and  on  Decem'ber  1st,  in  the  evening, 
we  find  him  at  work  on  the  field.  Jan- 
uary 13th,  1893,  an  ordaining  Council 
met  to  advise  in  reference  to  the  or- 
dination of  Brother  Mills  to  the  gos- 
pel Ministry. 

A    splendid    programme    of    a    very 
high   order   of   exercises   was    carried 


24 


Rev.  J.  F.  Mills 


out  with  Dr.  Galusha  Anderson  of  the 
Divinity  School  of  Chicago  as  examin- 
er, who  conducted  a  rigid  examina- 
tion, and  all  questions  were  answered 
by  Brother  Mills  in  a  most  satisfactory 
way.  In  the  evening  when  the  Ordina- 
tion programme  was  carried  out  Dr. 
Anderson  preached  the  ordaining  ser- 
mon from  the  words,  "and  the  com- 
mon people  heard  him  gladly."  Mat- 
thew 12:37. 

After  the  sermon,  Dr.  Anderson  of- 
fered the  prayer  of  ordination,  while 
the  hands  of  the  Presbytery  were  laid 
upon  the  head  of  the  candidate.  The 
charge  to  the  Pastor  was  given  by 
Rev.  E.  J.  Beardsley.  The  charge  to 
the  church  by  Rev.  R.  W.  Bell;  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  E.  A. 
Stone.  Benediction  by  Rev.  J.  F. 
Mills.  September  13th,  1893,  N.  A. 
Riley  presented,  his  resignation  as 
Chorister,  (See  resolutions),  and 
nominated  George  M.  Bennett  as  his 
successor.  He  was  elected  and  leads 
the  music  o  fthis  Anniversary  with 
great  acceptance  to  all  the  people  in 


the  church  and  in  the  community.  In 
November,  1893,  beginning  the  27th, 
special  services  were  led  by  Rev.  Riley 
of  Fairbury,  111.,  and  J.  W.  Tanner 
of  Normal,  111.  December  27th,  special 
meetings  closed. 

In  February,  1885,  a  motion  to  take 
steps  to  build  a  new  house  of  wor- 
ship during  the  present  year  was 
passed,  and  a  committee  consisting  of 
Rev.  J.  F.  Mills,  George  Bennett,  and 
M.  D.  Busey,  was  appointed  to  solicit 
funds. 

This  sentiment  was  brought  about 
by  a  very  passionate  sermon  preach- 
ed by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills, 
from  the  text  "Lengthen  thy  cords  and 
strengthen  thy  stakes."  March  21st 
the  church  ordered  the  committee  to 
proceed  at  once.  April  3rd,  1895, 
shows  the  following  classified  report 
of  amounts  pledged  to  that  date: 


No. 

4 

5 

1 

3 

4 

2 

1 
15 

2 

4 
19 

3 

2 

4 
55 

1 

15 
17 

3 

4 
42 

1 

1 

1 

1 


Pledge. 

Amount. 

$1000.00 

$4000.00 

500.00 

2500.00 

350.00 

350.00 

250.00 

750.00 

200.00 

800.00 

150.00  . 

300.00 

125.00 

125.00 

100.00 

1500.00 

75.00 

150.00 

60.00 

240.00 

50.00 

950.00 

40.00 

120.00 

30.00 

60.00 

1.00 

4.00 

$25.00 

$1350.00 

24.00 

24.00 

20.00 

300.00 

15.00 

255.00 

12.50 

37.50 

12.00 

48.00 

10.00 

420.00 

9.CO 

9.60 

8.00 

8.00 

7.00 

'      7.00 

6.00 

6.00 

25 


45 

1 


5.00  225.00 

2.00  2.00 

Grand   total $14,541.10 


May  8th,  1895,  plans  were  presented 
by  J.  E.  Hall  for  the  new  house  and 
were  adopted.  During  the  process  of 
building  the  Congregation  met  in  the 
Universalist  meeting  house  and  also 
a  part  of  the  time  in  the  Hall.  Octo- 
ber 1st,  1895,  an  invitation  was  ex- 
tended to  the  State  Convention  to 
meet  here  October  14th,  1896.  March 
8th,  the  first  meeting  in  the  new 
church  house  was  held  in  the  Sunday 
School  room  of  the  new  building. 

Rev.  J.  D.  Porter  was  invited  to 
hold  meetings.  No  record  of  results 
of  that  meeting  are  to  be  found.  March 
29th,  1896,  the  new  house  was  dedi- 
cated. January  27th,  1897,  $2500.00 
was  borrowed  on  security  of  church 
property  to  pay  off  debts  against  the 
church.  September  15th,  1897,  a  rec- 
ommendation of  the  Beacons  was 
passed  that  the  entire  membership 
together  with  a  statement  of  the  sub- 
scription of  individuals  to  current  ex- 
penses, be  printed  and  sent  out  to 
each  member.  October  29th,  at  the 
Annual  Roll  Call  the  membership  was 
385,  of  which  222  were  present,  or 
accounted  for.  Non-residents,  71, 
with  15  responses,  making  a  total 
membership  of  456,  with  237  respons- 
es. December  1st,  1897,  a  recom- 
mendation was  passed  that  Deacons 
and  Trustees  shall  be  ineligible  to  re- 
election for  one  year.  August  3rd, 
1895,  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills  resigned  to  take 
place  September  1,  1898. 

During  the  fall  of  1902,  while  com- 
pleting my  work  at  the  Divinity  school 
of  the  University  of  Chicago,  I  was 
led  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the 
First  Batpist  Church  of  Urbana,  111., 
agreeing  to  preach  every  two  weeks 
and  send  supplies  in  the  interim.  Held 


some  special  services  during  the 
Christmas  holidays  and  came  to  Ur- 
bana to  stay  the  following  June. 
There  were  three  factors  which  led 
me  to  accept  this  call.  First,  I  saw 
that  there  was  a  large  number  of 
young  people  in  the  families  of  the 
church  who  had  grown  up  and  re- 
mained unconverted,  here  was  a  great 
and  a  good  work  to  be  done;  a  cur- 
sory glance  at  the  old  building  was 
convincing  that  if  much  progress  was 
to  be  made,  a  new  church  would  be 
necessary  soon;  I  believed  it  was  pos- 
sible to  greatly  enlarge  the  constitu- 
ency of  the  church.  An  active  evan- 
gelistic work  during  the  first  ttfree 
years  brought  into  the  church  most  of 
the  young  people  and  many  of  the 
boys  and  girls  of  our  Baptist  families. 
This  was  mainly  carried  on  through 
the  regular  services  of  the  church. 
The  call  to  the  building  movement 
came  to  the  pastor  with  sudden  and 
convincing  revelation.  A  previous 
thoughtful  and  very  earnest  confer- 
ence with  certain  church  officers  had 
led  us  to  decide  that  with  so  many 
new  converts  to  train  and  feed  with 
the  Word,  that  it  would  not  be  wise 
to  go  forward  with  the  building  move- 
ment at  that  time.  But  God's  mes- 
sage came  to  the  pastor,  "Go  For- 
ward." He  gave  this  message  to  the 
church.  The  officers  met  the  follow- 
ing evening  and  said,  "Pastor,  we  do 
not  eblieve  it  is  possible  now,  'but  we 
do  not  dare  to  stand  in  the  way  of 
such  seemingly  strong  convictions,  go 
ahead  for  one  month  and  see  what 
you  can  do  toward  a  building  fund, 
but  we  cannot  consider  building  un- 
less $12,000  is  pledged.  At  the  end 
of  the  month  the  pastor  asked  for  ten 
days'  extension  of  time  to  complete 
the  canvas,  and  then  reported  $16,000 
in  subscriptions.  At  once  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  building. 

"The    walls    were    builded    because 
the  people  had  a  mind  to  give."  Many 


26 


gave  to  the  point  of  great  sacrifice, 
for  which  we  devoutly  thank  God  to- 
day, for  it  enabled  us  to  build  a 
church  not  only  suited  to  the  needs 
of  that  day,  but  one  that  wll  continue 
to  be  a  splendid  workshop  for  many 
years  to  come.  Many  wondered  if  we 
should  ever  see  that  same  fervent 
evangelistic  spirit  in  the  new  build- 
ing that  had  characterized  the  work 
of  the  last  three  years  in  the  old, 
that  same  spirit  was  manifestly  pres- 
ent in  the  fall  of  1897,  and  during  the 
first  six  months  of  1898.  Then  we 
were  permitted  to  enlarge  the  place  of 
our  habitation,  to  lengthen  our  cords 
ad  strengthen  our  stakes,  to  gain  a 
place  in  the  hearts  of  many  new  fam- 
ilies in  the  community,  for  most  of 
those  baptized  at  this  time  were  from 
families  not  previously  connected  with 
the  church.  The  building  movement 
was  successfully  completed  without 
friction,  leaving  us  in  good  condition 
to  go  forward  with  the  building  of  the 
greater  spiritual  temple.  The  work  of 
the  Ladies'  Church  Extension  Society 
deserves  to  te  specially  commended, 
for  they  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
building  fund,  and  helped  to  create  a 
growing  sentiment  which  at  last  en- 
abled the  church  to  unanimously  unite 
in  the  erection  of  a  new  temple  of 
worship.  We  were  permitted  to  see 
our  membership  nearly  doubled  in  six 
years.  J.  F.  Mills. 

Rev.  M.  L.  Rugg,  D.D. 

October  12th,  1898,  Rev.  M.  L.  Rugg 
was  unanimously  called  to  the  Pastor- 
ate .  March  5th,  1892,  after  the 
Trustees  had  made  their  final  report 
on  church  building,  the  church  heard 
an  address  from  Deacon  J.  S.  Hall  on 
the  church  'building,  including  the 
raising  of  funds  and  the  planning  and 
erection  of  the  building. 

Professor  C.  H.  Hopkins  spoke  on 
the  support  of  the  church  as  coming 
from  those  who  are  loyal,  and  inter- 


Rev.    M.    L.    Rugg,    D.D. 

ested  in  the  welfare  of  the  church. 
N.  A.  Riley  spoke  of  some  historical 
incidents  relating  to  the  church,  and 
Mrs.  J.  M.  Lewis  spoke  of  the  Ladies' 
Church  Extension  Society,  and  the 
fact  that  this  Society  has  contributed 
$2891.00  towards  the  church  building, 
and  furnishing  fund.  Brother  W.  O. 
Connor  spcke  for  the  Young  People, 
and  Geo.  M.  Bennett  spoke  of  the 
choir,  and  the  need  for  more  hymnals, 
and  a  pipe  organ  to  help  the  efficiency 
of  the  musical  services  of  the  church. 
Brother  L.  A.  McLean  spoke  of  the  de- 
velopment of  the  church,  Brother  Fred 
C.  Hubbard  presented  the  final  report 
of  the  Trustees  on  the  Building  Fund. 

All  cancelled  papers  in  connection 
with  the  building  were  burned,  and 
the  day  went  down  as  a  red  letter  day 
in  the  history  of  the  church. 

September  4th,  1901,  the  Building 
Committee  reported  finances  as  fol- 


27 

lows:  ferent  churches  from  the  east  to  the 

Receipts.  far  west  in  our  country,  I  have  yet  to 

General  subscription  $22,254.91  find  one  in  which  the  personal  rela- 

Ladies  Society  800.00  tionship  of  pastor  and  people  was  more 

Memorial  Window  Fund 790.18  harmonious    and    cordial.    During  the 

Stanford    Hall   subscription....       373.54  six  years  I  served  the  church  as  pas- 
Ladies'  Society,  Aug.  10 198.00  tor,    extending   from    November,    1898. 

to  the  last  of  1904,  I  have  not  record- 
Total  receipts $24,416.63  ed  upon  memory's  tablet  a  single  in- 

Contracts.  stance  in  which  unpleasant  words  or 
Paid  out  to  Aug.  1,  '01 $23,989.63  actions  marred  the  perfect  pastoral  re- 
Paid  on  note  400.00  lations. 

Interest  on  note 27.00  To  state  that  there  were  never  dif- 

ferences  of  opinions  regarding  church 

Total   paid  out $24,416.63  work  among  so  many  members  of  such 

Amt.   due   on   subs $1188.00  varied  conditions  of  living  and  think  - 

Amt.   due   on   deed 464.50  ing   would   be   to   declare   a   unity   of 

conclusions  impossible    among    those 

Total  amount  due $1652.50  with    such    differences    of   viewpoints. 

Bal.  of  debt  500.00  But    though    differences    might    arise. 

Leaving  a  balance  of $1152.50  the   tie   of  Christian   love   bound    the 

hearts  of  pastor  and  people  in  such 

if  pledges  were  paid.  unity  of  purpose  in  carrying  them  out 
October  12th,  1902,  roll  call,  to  that  the  different  pieces  became  one 
which  213  members  responded.  De-  building  in  the  finished  work.  This 
cember  3rd,  1902,  a  Pipe  Organ  Com-  unity  of  thought,  and  purpose,  and  ac- 
mittee  was  appointed  to  raise  funds  ^on  was  well  expressed  in  the  verse 
and  were  given  conditions.  of  that  hymn  we  so  often  sung  at 
December  21st,  1902,  Evangelist  communion  service:  '  Blest  be  the  tie 
Tera  Smith  was  invited  to  assist  Pas-  that  binds  our  hearts  in  Christian  love, 
tor  Rugg  in  holding  special  meetings  The  fellowship  of  kindred  minds  is 
to  begin  January  llth,  1903.  October  like  to  that  above." 
19th,  1904,  Pastor  M.  L.  Rugg  resigned,  My  Impressions  regarding  the 
to  take  effect  December  1,  1904.  church,  as  already  mentioned  would  in 
I  send  my  greetings  and  best  wish-  many  ways  apply  to  my  relationship 
es  to  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ur-  to  those  without.  Especially  did  I  find 
bana,  111.,  on  this  her  seventy-fifth  an-  the  fellowship  of  Christian  love  in 
niversary.  I  congratulate  pastor  and  those  who  bear  another  name.  And 
people  on  the  blessings  which  have  at-  those  who  worshiped  with  us  in  kin- 
tended  them  and  made  it  possible  to  dred  faith  from  the  university.  I  knew 
celebrate  under  such  pleasant  condi-  them  only  a  few  years,  yet  I  came  to 
tions  this  auspicious  occasion.  look  upon  many  of  them,  not  as  guests, 
After  being  in  the  pastorate  over  but  as  members  of  our  church  home, 
thirty  years,  I  can  truthfully  say  that  In  with  the  review  of  these  relation- 
the  six  years  I  spent  as  Pastor  of  the  ships  are  the  many  social  and  friendly 
Urbana  Baptist  church  count,  in  every  ones  with  those  I  met  in  the  business 
way,  among  the  most  pleasant  and  and  society  ways  of  the  city.  I  can 
prosperous  of  my  ministry.  After  a  wish  for  my  successor  no  more  pleas- 
personal  acquaintance  as  pastor  of  dif-  ant  review  than  that  which  rises  to 


28 


my  own  mind  as  I  write.  For  such 
pleasant  relationship  in  the  future  as 
have  marked  those  of  the  past  is  the 
wish  and  prayer  of  one  of  the  old  pas- 
tors. M.  L.  Rugg,  D.D. 

REV.  J.   A.    BROWN. 


Rev.  James  A.  Brown  was  called  to 
the  Pastorate  April  5th,  1905.  The 
new  parsonage,  205  West  High  street, 
was  decided  upon  by  the  Trustees,  and 
consented  to  by  Mrs.  Busey,  to  which 
she  gave  $4,000.00,  and  the  church 
ordered  the  Trustees  to  close  the  deal 
at  once,  the  purchasing  price  being 
$6.800.00.  December  6th,  1905,  the 
Trustees  recommended  that  a  Finan- 
cial Agent  be  employed  at  a  salary  of 
$100.00  per  year,  and  the  church 
adopted  the  recommendation,  appoint- 
ing Miss  Anna  Webber  as  the  first 
and  only  paid  agent.  August  15th, 
1905,  Pastor  Brown  resigned  to  take 
effect  October  31st,  1906.  The  church 
accepted  the  resignation. 

Letter  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Brown. 

There  is  little  to  be  said  about  my 
short  pastorate  in  the  Urbana  church. 
I  was  there  only  one  year  and  six 
months.  At  the  beginning  of  my  work 


"Mother  Busey"  gave  the  money  by 
which  the  present  fine  parsonage  was 
made  possible  to  the  church.  The 
weekly  system  of  giving  to  Missions 
was  introduced,  and  pushed  to  such  an 
extent  that  there  was  complaint  that 
more  gave  to  Missions,  than  to  our 
regular  church  expense.  The  Sabbath 
School  was  changed  from  the  noon 
hour  to  the  morning.  We  remember 
our  Urbana  friends  with  tender  regard, 
and  affection.  My  work  at  Blooniing- 
ton,  Indiana,  was  eminently  successful 
six  years,  and  my  work  here  in  a  great 
educational  center  is  succeeding  ad- 
mirably, with  every  seat  taken,  and 
constant  additions  to  the  church.  I 
will  mail  you  my  "cut"  whenever  you 
want  it.  Yours  truly, 

Emporia,  Kan.          James  A.  Brown. 


Rev.  Robert  Van   Meigs 


October  24th,  1906.  a  call  was  ex- 
tended to  Rev.  R.  V.  Meigs  to  the  pas- 
torate of  the  church.  Only  a  few  had 
heard  him,  or  seen  him.  After  lengthy 
specifications  had  been  presented  by 
him,  and  accepted  by  the  church,  he 


29 


was  installed  as  pastor.  November  7th, 
190G,  28  names  were  dropped  from  the 
roll  for  delinquency.  June  5th,  1907, 
the  church  was  the  recipient  of  an 
Individual  Communion  set  from  Sisters 
S.  H.  Busey  and  Augusta  Morgan.  A 
vote  of  thanks  was  extended  to  them 
for  this  thoughtful  gift.  October  Gth, 
1907,  the  Deacons  were  instructed  to 
use  one-fifth  of  the  Communion  of- 
fering for  other  objects,  and  purposes, 
than  usually  this  .fund  is  used.  De- 
cember 4th,  1907,  it  was  decided  to 
elect  a  Moderator,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  preside  over  all  business  meet- 
ings, and  whose  term  of  office  shall 
be  one  year.  By  unanimous  vote  Dea- 
con J.  S.  Hall  was  elected  to  that  po- 
sition, which  he  has  held  with  honor, 
and  acceptance  to  this  day.  In  this 
meeting  a  motion  was  passed  request- 
ing the  heads  of  each  department  to 
present  an  annual  report  of  work  done 
by  that  department  for  the  year 
closing  with  December  31st.  Septem- 
ber 8th,  Rev.  R.  S.  Mackey,  pastor  of 
the  "Church  of  God,"  presented  him- 
self for  membership  in  this  church, 
and  after  examination  by  Deacons  and 
others  he  was  received  as  a  member, 
and  the  hand  of  fellowship  extended 
to  him.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was 
moved  and  carried,  that  the  church 
request  the  Bloomfield  Association  in 
its  meeting  at  Arthur,  to  examine 
Rev.  Mr.  Mackey  as  to  ordination,  to 
the  gospel  ministry  as  a  Baptist.  Oc- 
tober Gth,  1909,  the  Trustees  reported 
the  gift  of  $300.00  by  Miss  Myra  Sil- 
vers to  the  church.  December  2nd, 
1909,  the  Deacons  reported  that  there 
were  49  conversions  as  a  result  of  the 
Herald  of  Hope  work  in  the  north  part 
of  the  city.  They  recommended  the 
formation  of  a  mission  branch  of  the 
First  Church.  For  further  history  see 
Herald  of  Hope  Baptist  church.  Sep- 
tember 18th,  1909,  the  Deacons  recom- 
mended that  the  Rev.  Edgar  Wool- 


house  be  called  as  Assistant  Pastor  of 
the  First  Church  with  a  view  to  tak- 
ing charge  of  the  work  at  Herald  of 
Hope  Chapel.  December  7th,  1910, 
the  Pastor,  R.  V.  Meigs,  was  request- 
ed to  take  charge  of  Finances  for  the 
year  1911.  June  7th,  1911,  it  was  mov- 
ed and  carried  that  one  service  every 
two  months  be  devoted  to  the  Com- 
munion service.  September  23rd,  1911, 
the  Rev.  Edgar  Woolhouse  was  callel 
to  the  Herald  of  Hope  Mission.  Jan- 
uary 3rd,  1912,  the  plan  of  financing 
the  church  was  left  as  last  year,  in 
the  hands  of  the  Pastor.  February 
4th,  1912,  Revs.  R.  S.  Kirkland  and 
F.  F.  Leonard  began  a  special  meet- 
ing. There  is  no  further  record  of 
that  meeting  as  to  results,  or  time  of 
continuance.  July  17tn,  1912,  Rev.  R. 
V.  Meigs  presented  his  resignation  as 
Pastor,  and  it  was  accepted  to  take 
place  September  1st,  1912.  Resolu- 
tions were  passed  on  the  resignation 
of  Rev.  R.  V.  Meigs.  Brother  Meigs 
was  a  very  magnetic  man  with  a  pas- 
sion for  additions,  and  a  persistent 
method  of  working  to  that  end.  His 
history  in  the  church,  page  after  page, 
is  that  of  gathering  in.  There  were 
some  periods  of  discipline,  and  some 
names  were  dropped,  but  the  whole 
work  of  his  five  years,  and  eight 
months  of  service  was  along  the  line 
of  accretion  to  the  church.  Several 
times  his  health  was  in  jeopardy,  and 
the  church  always  came  to  his  relief, 
and  did  the  handsome  thing  to  his 
help,  and  to  her  honor.  During  his 
ministry  in  1910  the  Church  enter- 
tained the  State  Convention.  During 
this  Pastorate  a  class  in  the  Sunday 
School  was  organized,  and  called  the 
"Tri-mu  Class."  This  class  might  be 
made  the  strongest  organization  in  the 
church,  and  will  be  so,  when  they 
give  the  emphasis  of  their  work  to 
the  spiritual  side  of  the  church. 


30 


Letter  of  Rev.  R.  V.  Meigs. 
Mrs.  Meigs  and  I  began  our  work 
with  the  church  January  1,  1907,  and 
closed  Sept.  1,  1912.  At  the  beginning 
of  my  pastorate  I  declared  that  the 
First  Church  of  Urbana  should  have  a 
membership  of  one  thousand  strong. 
The  first  year  the  clerk  reported  133 
additions.  The  trustees  reported  a 
deficit  of  $929.19  wiped  out.  The  sec- 
ond year  there  were  122  additions,  and 
the  building  was  renovated,  credit  for 
which  was  duly  given  to  the  varous 
departments  by  Chairman  N.  A.  Riley, 
the  Clerk  L.  A.  McLean  saying  in  his 
report,  'The  year  has  been  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  in  the. history  of  the 
church."  During  the  year  the  benevo- 
lences increased  more  than  25  per 
cent.  The  Sunday  School  attendance 
had  almost  doub'ei  that  of  January, 
1907,  the  average  being  35G,  with  of- 
ferings $8.92  per  Sunday.  In  1908,  in 
the  afternoons  the  pastor  held  a  cate- 
chetical class  for  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  out  of  which  the 
Junior  Church  grew  in  1909,  and  in 

1910  the  Junior,  and  Intermediate  C. 
E.    In  1910  a  splendid  Bible  rHass  was 
conducted  by  Deacon  E.  S.  Hall  at  Mrs. 
Artemesia  Busey's  home.  In  the  midst 
of  large  plans  which  were  being  car^ 
ried  out  successfully   came  the   sick- 
ness   which    enforced    a    vacation    of 
three   months    and    won    my   undying 
gratitude  to  the  church  for  its  kind- 
ness.   In  the  year  1911  a  finance  com- 
mittee  of  men  was   organized,   which 
succeded  in  meeting  current  expenses, 
and  also  reducing  the  deficit  more  than 
$200.00.     An  attack  of  appendicitis  in 

1911  made  another  three  months'  va- 
cation necessary,  and  the  church  cared 
for  me.    Mrs.  Meigs  and  I  enjoyed  our 
work  with  the  church,  and  Association, 
and  University  people  and     also     our 
church  choir.    It  is  our  prayer  that  the 
Urbana  church  may  grow  in  spiritual- 
ity, and  membership,  and  interest  in 


missions  among  all  its  people. 
Cordially  yours, 

R.  V.  Meigs. 


Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  D.D. 


By  a  singular  providential  dealing, 
Rev.  G.  M.  Shott  had  been  invited  to 
visit  here  on  his  return  from  the 
Northern  Covention  at  DesMoinea, 
Iowa,  but  it  so  transpired  that  he 
could  not  attend  the  meetings  at 
Des  Moines,  and  cancelled  his  engage- 
ment. A  little  later  he  was  requested 
to  pay  a  vacation  visit  to  Urbana  and 
visit  with  old  friends  and  members, 
and  preach  as  a  supply  for  Elder 
Meigs.  The  arrangement  had  been 
made,  and  the  dates  set  for  July  21 
and  28.  On  Thursday,  July  18th,  in 
a  letter  from  Pastor  Meigs,  making 
final  plans  for  the  visit  he  informed 
Elder  Shott  of  his  resignation. 

At  his  first  interview  with  Elder 
Shott,  Elder  Meigs  said,  "Why  can- 
not you  come  back,  and  take  up  the 


31 


work  again."  The  matter  was  looked 
upon  at  first  as  a  passing  complement, 
and  pleasantry,  but  after  the  first 
Sab-bath  of  services  old  friends  who 
had  been  in  Mr.  Shott's  former  Pas- 
torate met  in  groups,  and  at  once  be- 
gan to  discuss  the  possibilities  of  his 
return  to  a  second  Pastorate,  and  so 
that  by  Wednesday  of  the  first  week 
of  his  visit  it  was  practically  settled 
that  a  call  would  be  extended.  On 
quickly  the  the  sentiment  spread, 
Sunday,  August  4th,  1912,  the  Pulpit 
Committee  reported  a  recommenda- 
tion to  call  Rev.  Gideon  M.  Shott  to 
a  second  Pastorate  to  tegin  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1912.  He  immediately  ac- 
cepted, and  was  on  the  field  in  time  to 
attend  the  Bloomfield  Association  at 
Sidell. 

The  first  work  which  has  not  yet 
been  quite  finished  has  been  to  find, 
and  as  far  as  possible  line  up  the 
large,  and  scattered  membership  of 
the  church.  The  organization  of  the 
University  Baptist  Church,  and  a  lit- 
tle later  the  organization  of  Herald  of 
Hope  as  a  separate  church,  and  soon 
after  that  the  organization  of  Cun- 
ningham Avenue  Mission  into  a  separ- 
ate Baptist  church,  has  made  some 
drafts  upon  our  membership,  but  at 
tlrs  time  as  this  history  goes  to  press 
the  membership  all  told  is  GG4. 

Rev.  G.  M.  Shott  was  asked  to  teach 
the  "Agoma"  Student  Class  and  has 
been  teaching  a  Teachers'  Class  also, 
besides  taking  a  full  hand  in  all  the 
other  services,  doing  some  outside 
work  besides.  He  expects,  and  has 
already  begun  to  do  work  in  the  As- 
sociation, and  at  other  points,  and  has 
many  calls  for  addresses,  and  funerals, 
and  other  services. 

During  1913  the  Trustees  are  re- 
sponsible for  the  financing  of  the 
church.  The  church  has  been  careful- 
ly districted,  and  visitors  located  in 
each  district  to  look  after  each  de- 


partment of  church  work,  and  report 
results.  This  method  has  not  yet  had 
a  good  chance  to  reach  results,  but  its 
influence  has  already  been  very  wide- 
spread, and  if  the  members  of  the 
committees  on  the  districts  will  do 
the  work  asked  of  them  it  will  revolu- 
tionize the  attendance,  and  finances 
of  the  church.  The  Pastor  relates  al- 
most daily  little  pleasant  surprises  of 
finding  people  who  were  either  ac- 
quainted in  the  first  Pastorate,  or 
were  related  in  some  way,  making 
each  day  a  joyful  day  of  service,  and 
surprises. 

L.  A.  McLean. 


FOURTH  QUARTER  CENTURY. 

With  the  close  of  these  pages  our 
church  will  be  entering  upon  the 
Fourth  Quarter  Century  of  its  history. 
May  not  t  ehexperiences  of  the  Three 
Quarters  through  which  it  has  come 
(each  -patience  and  perseverance  and 
strict  adherence  to  Covenant?  Would 
it  not  be  a  fine  ambition  to  strive  to 
exalt  the  standards  of  our  church,  and 
denomination?  At  the  time  this  book 
goes  to  press  it  is  being  prophesied  by 
those  who  ought  to  know,  that  there 
are  many  signs  of  a  return  to  more 
conservative  standards,  and  deeper 
spiritual  ideals.  The  Bible  is  being 
read  as  it  never  has  been  read  in  all 
the  years.  It  has  passed  successfully 
through  decades  of  the  most  destruct- 
ive criticism  possible  to  the  judg- 
ments of  men.  Every  advantage  has 
been  taken  of  its  many  translations, 
and  the  consequent  errors  that  have 
crept  in  from  careless  usage,  and  yet 
the  integrity  of  the  Word  of  God 
stands  secure. 

•  Let  us  all  begin  at  once  to  make 
this  generation  tell  on  all  successive 
generations. 


32 


CHAPTER  VII. 
PASTORS— DEACONS— CLERKS— LICENSE 


"And  he  gave  some  apostles,  and  some  prophets,  and  some  evangelists  and 
some  Pastors  and  some  teachers." 


Pastor. 

Elected. 

Resigned. 

Duration. 

Rev   Isaac  Newell 

September,    1838.. 

June    1839    

9   months 

Rev    F    Smalley 

October    1839  

June    1840 

8    months 

Rev   Dan'l  Porter 

July,    1840 

March     1842 

1     voar     8    months 

Rev    Dual  Dotson 

May    1842 

°eptember     1843 

Rev    G    W    Dare 

.  1847 

May  3   1849 

Rev   Rual  Dotson 

March  3,  1849  

July  5   1851 

2  years   4  months 

Rev.  D.  S.  French 
Rev    Mr    Taylor 

August  30,  1851.... 
March  6,  1852 

December,   1851..- 
March   5    1853 

4   months. 

Rev  Ira  M   Reese 

May  21,  1853  

May  6   1854 

1  year 

Rev  G  W  Carter 

July  1    1854  .. 

March   3    1855 

8  months 

Rev.  John  A.  Pool 
Rev.  G.  W.  Riley.. 
Rev.  A.   L.  Fair.. 
Rev.  G.  W.  Riley 

December  1,  1855 
April   5,    1856  
January  1,  1857.— 
October  16    1858.. 

January  1,  1856.... 
September  1,  1856 
March  1,   1858  
April  7    1867 

1  year. 
5  months. 
1  year,  2  months. 
9  years   5  months 

Rv.  A.B.  J.  Bryant 

October  2,  1867.... 

July  3  1869  

1  year   5  months. 

Rev.  A.  L  Seward 

July   25,    1869  

July  1,  1870       .    . 

11  months 

Rev.  G.  W.  Riley.. 
D.  F.  Carnahan.... 
W     H     Stedman 

February  2,  1870.. 
Nov.  10,  1872  
May  10,  1875  

Nov.  10,  1872  
August  30,  1874.... 
March  5,   1882 

2  years,  9  months. 
1  year,  9  months. 
7  years 

Rev   G   M.  Shott 

August  1,  1882  

June  8,  1884 

1  year  10  months. 

Rev    B    C.  Sage 

July  1,  1886  

June  8,  1887    .    .  . 

11  months. 

Rev.  F.  J.  Leavitt 
Rev.  W.  W.  Smith 
Rev.  J.  W.  Primm 
Rev.  J.  F.  Mills.... 
Rev.  M.  L.  Rugg.. 
Rev.  J.  A.  Brown 
Rev.  R.  V.  Meigs 
Rev.  G.  M    Shott 

August  1,  1887  
September  7,  1889 
November  8,  1891 
December  18,  1892 
December  1,  1898 
March   22,   1905.... 
December  9,  1906 
September  1,  1912 

August  1,  1889  
September  1,  1891 
October  2,  1892.... 
September  1,  1898 
November  1,  1904 
October  31,  1906.. 
September  1,  1912 

2  years. 
2  years. 
11  months. 
5  years,  8  months 
5  years,  9  months 
1  year,  6  months. 
5  years,  8  months 

v 

The  average  of  all  the  pastorates 
is  2  years,  7  months.  The  longest 
single  pastorate  was  that  of  Elder  G. 
W.  Riley,  9  years  and  5  months.  Th'e 
second  longest  is  that  of  Rev.  W.  H. 
Stedman,  D.D.,  7  years  and  1  month. 


To  Elder  Riley  came  the  unusual  ex- 
perience of  a  third  call  to  the  pastor- 
ate while  Elder  Rual  Dotson  and 
Rev.  G.  M.  Shott  were  each  honored 
with  a  call  to  a  second  partorate. 


33 


"For  they  that  have  used   the  office  of  a  deacon   well,   purchase   to  them- 
selves a  good  degree,  and  great  boldness  of  the  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus." 


DEACONS 


Matthais  Rhinehart,  March,  1839. 
James  T.  Roe,  March,  1839. 
William  Gill,  April  5,  185G. 
James  S.  Busey,  April  5,  1856. 
J.  N.  Wilson,  June  1,  1858. 

E.  S.  Packard,  June  1,  1858. 
James  Myers,  June  1,  1858. 
Joseph  T.  Everett,  December  5,  1861. 
William  P.  Sweet,  February  4,  1863. 
J.  W.  Everett,  February  4,  1863. 
Edward  Ater,  December  19,  1863. 
Dudley  McClain,  January  2,  1870. 

S.  S.  Hall,  January  2,  1870. 
Allan  McClain,  February  5,  1876. 
George  Walker,  July  1,  1881. 
P.  Richards,  March  19,  1884. 
N.  A.  Riley,  February  6,  1884. 
J.  W.  Cushman,  March  19,  1884. 
J.  P.  Blue,  March  19,  1884. 

F.  M.  Snyder,  February  6,  1884. 
L.  G.  Hubbard,  December  7,  1887. 
J.  S.  Hall,  October  1,  1893. 

C.  A.  Tufts,  December  5,  1894. 
George  Walker,  December  5,  1894. 
M.  D.  Busey,  December  4,  1895. 
N.  A.  Riley,  December  4,  1895. 

G.  H.  Clark,  December  1,  1897. 
George  Walker,  December  7,  1898. 
John  Ross,  January,  1898. 

M.  D.  Busey,  December  6,  1899. 
E.  M.  Knowlton,  December  6,  1899. 
James  I.  Batler,  December  5,  1900. 
J.  S.  Hall,  December  6.  1911. 
William  Gardner,  December  3,  1903. 
M.  D.  Busey,  December  7,  1904. 

A  faithful  Deacon  is  a  blessing  to 
any  church  or  pastor.  There  is  more 
than  ordinary  opportunity  in  this 
church  for  the  office  of  Deacon  to  be 
of  special  help  to  the  Pastor  and 


J.  S.  Hall,  December  5,  1906. 

E.  S.  Hall,  May  1,  1907. 

F.  J.  Clark,  Sept.  1,  1907. 

D.  L.  Scroggins,  May  1,  1907. 
J.  V.  Riggs,  December  4,  1907. 
J.  W.  Primm,  December  2,  1908. 
M.  D.  Busey,  December  2,  1908. 
J.  I.  Butler,  December  2,  1908. 
F.  M.  Wardall,  December  5,  1900. 
Joseph  M.  Roberts,  Dec.  5,  1900. 
N.  A.  Riley,  December  14,  1901. 
John  Ross,  December  3,  1903. 
Hiram  V.  Jones,  Dec.  7,  1904. 
W.  B.  Clark,  December  5,  1906. 
John  Ross,  December  4,  1907. 

J.  P.  Blue,  May  1,  1907. 

C.  A.  Tufts,  January  5,  1907. 

L.  G.  Hubbard,  December  4,  1907. 
William  Gardner,  December  4,  1907. 
J.  W.  Peacock,  December  4,  1907. 
F.  C.  Hubbard,  December  2,  1908. 
George  Schiff,  December  2,  1908. 
J.  W.z  Primm,  December  2,  1909. 
H.  V.  Jones,  Decemuer  2,  1909. 
F.  M.  Wardall,  December  2,  1909. 
Edward  Lee,  December  2,  1909. 
H.  P.  Stinespring,  Dec.  7,  1910. 

E.  S.  Hall,  December  7,  1910. 

D.  H.  Goodspeed,  December  6,  1911. 
Edward  Lanham,  March  1,  1911. 

E.  P.  Barnhart,  December  6,  1911. 
L.  A.  McLean,  December  4,  1912. 
Hiram  Jones,  December  4,  1912. 
W.  I.  Roberts,  December  4,  1912. 
J.  S.  Hall,  December  6,  1912. 

E.  T.  Strong,  December  4,  1912. 
W.  L.  Bennett,  December  4,  1912. 

church.  A  spiritual  Deacon  will  stand 
as  a  peacemaker  between  contending 
parties.  He  can  smother  flames  start- 
ed by  wagging  tongues  before  a  great 
fire  is  kindled. 


34 


CLERKS 

"Write  it  before  them  in  a  table,  and  note  it  in  a  book,  that  it  may  be  for 
time  to  come,  forever  and  forever." 


F.   M. 


F.  M.  Snyder 

Among  the  clerks  we  find  that  F. 
M.  Snyder  held  the  longest  continu- 
ous service.  His  term  of  service 
lacked  three  months  of  eleven  years. 
L.  A.  McLean  'had  two  terms  as  clerk, 
one  of  two  years  and  another  of  nine 
years  continuously.  F.  M.  Snyder  was 
born  November  19th,  1834,  at  Homes- 
dale,  Pa.  He  became  a  printer's  ap- 
prentice at  the  age  of  16  and  after 
coming  to  Urbana  in  1850  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Urbana  Union  and  set 
the  first  type  for  a  newspaper  in  Ur- 
bana. He  has  followed  some  form  of 
the  business  for  most  of  his  life  as 
editor,  publisher,  or  journeyman.  He 
edited  and  published  the  Urbana  Re- 
publican, which  afterwards  was  merg- 
ed into  the  Champaign  County  Her- 
ald, for  ten  years.  He  suffered  three 
disastrous  fires,  but  rose  each  time, 


Snyder 

and  continued  to  publish  a  newspaper. 
In  1882  he  took  the  place  of  composi- 
tor on  the  Herald,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion for  a  long  time.  June  21st,  1860, 
he  married  Miss  Clara  Goodspeed,  who 
is  still  living.  A  large  family  gathered 
about  their  hearthstone,  and  still  live 
with  one  exception  to  cheer  their  de- 
clining days.  Mr.  Snyder  had  three 
years  of  war  service  from  which  he 
came  home  in  '65  badly  broken  in 
health.  He  at  once  addressed  him- 
self to  his  chosen  calling,  and  made 
headway  against  difficulties  formid- 
able enough  to  have  discouraged  even 
a  stronger  man.  He  is  a  man  of  per- 
sistent will  power,  and  at  present  is 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  doing  business 
without  much  loss  of  time. 

He  is  an  enthusiastic  Odd  Fellow, 
and  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Urbana  since  March  3rd, 
1883,  when  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott  in  his 
first  pastorate  baptized  him  and  Mrs. 
Snyder.  His  minutes  are  orderly,  and 
fairly  full,  and  withal  show  care,  and 
neatness.  He  handled  "the  pen  of  a 
ready  writer." 


David  Cox,  1838-May,  1884. 

James  Myers,  May,  1844-Ap.  2,  1853. 

T.    J.    Newport,    Apr.    2,    1853 -May 

6,   1864. 
Jephtha   Trumann,    May     6,      1854- 

August  5,  1854. 
David   O.  Quick,     August     5,   1854- 

May  31,   1856. 
Andrew  J.  Allan,  May  31,  1856-June 

1,   1857. 
Robert  Slater,  July  12,  1857-July  1, 

1865. 
Allen    McClain,    July    1,    1865-June 

3,  1871. 
Henry  Steele,  June  3,  1871-January 


35 


12,  1872. 
Jeptha    Truman,    Jan.    1,    1872-May 

4,   1873. 
Robert  Webber,  May  4,  1873-March 

6,  1875. 

L.  A.  McLean,  March  G,  1875-March 
31,    1877. 
M.    D.    Busey,    March    31,    1877-Jan. 

8,  1879. 
Mrs.  Hattie  Gere,  Jan.  8,  1879-Jan. 

1,   1881. 

E.  H.    Cunningham,    Jan.    1,    1881- 
Dec.  28,  1881. 

W.   B.   Carman,   Dec.   28,   1881-June 

28,   1882. 
W.    H.    Dickerson,    June    28,    1882- 

August  15,  1883. 

F.  M.  Snyder,  August  15,  1883-Apr. 

4,  1894. 


Burt  Webber,  April  4,  1894-Dec.  5, 

1894. 
John    Kerrigan,    Dec.    5,    1892 -Dec. 

2,  1896. 
C.    G.    Hopkins,    Dec.    2,    '96;    July 

5,  1899. 

F.    C.    Hubbard,    July    5,    1899-Dec. 

14,  1901. 
C.  G.  Hopkins,  Dec.  14,  '01-Dec.  3, 

1902. 
L.    A.    McLean,    Dec.    3,    1902-Dec. 

6,  1911. 

C.  A.  Tufts,  Dec.  6,  1911-Dec.  4,  '11. 
Horace  Ingalls,  Dec.  4,  1912 — 
Twenty-six  clerks  in  all;   an  aver- 
age of  three  years  apiece  for  "25  of 
tLem    that    handled    the    pen    of    the 
writer." 


LICENSE 

"As  ye  ero,  preach." 


While  the  church  has  sent  out 
hundreds  of  members  to  take  up  work 
elsewhere,  it  has  not  been  prolific  in 
Ministerial  results.  So  far  as  records 
show  only  four  persons  have  ever  been 
licensed  to  preach,  and  not  one  has 
gone  to  the  Foreign  field.  November 
2,  1872,  Henry  Steele  was  licensed  and 
September  27,  1882,  John  Carman  was 
licensed,  and  August  5,  1895,  W.  G. 
Spurgin  was  licensed,  but  his  license 
was  revoked  July  5th,  1899,  he  having 
chosen  a  secular  calling  instead.  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1883,  Deacon  Allen  McClain 
was  licensed  to  preach.  The  church 
should  not  only  "pray  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  that  he  would  send  laborers 
into  the  harvest,  "but  it  should  seek 
out  promising  young  men  and  women, 
and  lay  the  burden  of  responsibility 
upon  them  to  prepare  themselves  for 
the  many-sided  phases  of  presenting 
the  gospel  both  at  home,  and  abroad. 
Our  Young  People's  Society  has  been 
paying  about  seventy-five  dollars  per 
year  towards  the  support  of  Gaula 
Sayanna,  a  native  Missionary  in  Han- 


amakonda  Deccan,  India. 

We  have  one  member  of  our  church, 
Rev.  W.  H.  Stallings,  who  is  at  Hamil- 
ton, N.  Y.,  preparing  himself  for  work 
on  the  foreign  field.  He  was  not  li- 
censed by  this  church,  but  represents 
it  as  a  student  for  the  Ministry. 

The  supply  of  ministers  depends 
largely  upon  the  home  life,  and  the 
church  life  of  boys  who  come  from 
Christian  homes.  If  they  are  proper- 
ly taught  in  Missions,  and  the  great 
privileges  of  serving  Christ  at  home 
and  abroad,  we  shall  never  lack  min- 
isters. The  ministry  demands  the 
best  that  any  man  can  bring  into  its 
service  and  the  finest  intellect  cul- 
tured to  the  limits  of  utmost  ability 
is  none  too  small  to  consecrate  to 
Him  who  gave  himself  for  the  world. 
The  new  minister  of  the  next  twenty- 
five  years  will  be  more  manly  and 
natural. 

Let  all  who  read  this  book  pray 
that  the  old  church  may  send  out 
many  a  herald  not  only  into  the  home 
field,  but  abroad  as  well. 


36 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
FINANCES— TREASURERS— TRUSTEES 

"On  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  everyone  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store  as  the 
Lord  hath  prospered." 


FINANCES 


From  the  time  the  church  failed  to 
secure  the  lot  granted  to  them  by  the 
county  in  1839,  the  financial  prob- 
lem has  been  an  unsettled  one.  All 
sorts  of  plans,  and  ways  and  means 
have  been  instituted  to  put  the  church 
on  a  good  financial  footing,  but  none 
of  them  have  been  worned  up  to  the 
point  of  absolute  success.  The  min- 
utes swarm  with  constant  references 
to  incomplete  finances.  (See  chapter 
on  Resolutions).  As  the  membership 
increased  the  difficulties  of  the  finance 
part  of  the  work  seemed  to  increase. 
There  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  special 
tenderness  about  the  matter  of  fi- 
nance, all  through  the  church.  The 
fear  of  infringing  on  the  personal 


prejudices  of  members  who  range 
along  a  wide  difference  of  opinions 
about  the  matter  of  giving,  seems  to 
be  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  mat- 
ter The  Bible  is  specially  explicit 
ir  the  matter  of  the  Stewardship  of 
God's  people  for  finances.  Your  com- 
mittee would  urge  a  campaign  of 
persistent  effort  along  the  line  of  the 
individual,  proportionate,  and  sys- 
tematic giving  through  the  envelope, 
weekly,  till  we  get  this  matter  out  of 
the  ruts.  It  is  not  a  good  advertise- 
ment to  the  world  to  see  the  church 
run  on  such  a  cheap  basis,  with  all 
other  things,  including  the  homes  of 
its.  people,  run  on  a  high  finance 
basis. 


TREASURERS 

"And  Jesus  sat  over  against  the  treasury,   and   beheld  how  the  people  cast 
money  into  the  treasury." 


From  the  earliest  times  in  the 
church  the  collecting  and  handling  of 
money  seems  to  have  been  by  a  Fi- 
iiance  Committee,  and  sometimes  by 
two  such  committees.  A  single 
treasurer  was  not  elected  as  far  as 
records  at  hand  show  till  December 
31st,  1880,  when  Brother  B.  S.  Lan- 
ham,  whose  name  is  frequently  seen 
on  Finance  Committees,  becomes  the 
Treasurer.  November  8th,  1883,  John 
Ross  was  elected  to  that  office,  which 
he  resigned  September  10th,  1884, 
when  Ozias  Riley  was  elected  and 
filled  the  office  till  April  Gth,  1885, 
when  E.  M.  Knowlton  was  elected  to 
fill  out  the  unexpired  year,  and  has 
remained  the  continuous  Treasurer 
for  more  than  28  consecutive  years. 


No  one  knows  the  harrassing  detail? 
of  handling  money  for  church  pur- 
poses, where  so  many  do  not  con- 
tribute regularly  and  through  envel- 
opes. Many  little  misunderstandings 
are  sure  to  result  requiring  explana- 
tions which  are  not  often  accepted  in 
a  sweet  spirit.  No  man  in  the  history 
of  the  church  could  have  brought 
more  patience  into  the  work  than  he 
has  done,  and  the  years  of  his  con- 
stant service  are  the  highest  proofs 
of  his  abilities  and  the  confidence  the 
church  reposes  in  him.  The  Contrib- 
utors might  make  the  work  less  irk- 
some by  regularity  and  using  the  en- 
velopes so  that  he  can  take  his  own 
time  to  make  credits. 


37 


Everett  Knowlton 

EVERETT  M.  KNOWLTON. 
Everett  M.  Knowlton  was  born  in 
Stratton,  Vermont,  and  took  a  course 
of  study  in  Leland  and  Gray  Seminary 
in  Townsend,  Vermont.  He  came  to 
Urbana  in  1877,  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  a  few  years.  He  then  formed 
the  firm  of  nowlton  &  Bennett,  which 
has  been  doing  a  thriving  business  at 
the  old  corner,  for  more  than  twenty- 
six  years.  The  store  is  also  a  sort  of 
Baptist  Headquarters  for  Baptists 
from  far  and  near.  Brother  Knowlton 
was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  Bennett, 
and  though  she  is  as  staunch  a  Pres- 
byterian as  he  is  a  Baptist,  yet  they 
have  an  ideal  plan  by  which  each  one 


remains  loyal  to  the  church  of  person- 
al choice  with  a  delightful  "right  of 
way"  for  visiting  each  other's  church. 
Brother  Knowlton  is  closely  related 
to  Missions  on  the  Foreign  field  on 
account  of  Rev.  M.  J.  Knowlton,  who 
was  our  missionary  to  Ning  Po, 
China.  After  twenty  years  on  the  for- 
eign field,  Rev.  M.  J.  Knowlton  re- 
turned to  this  country  for  rest,  and 
then  returned  to  China,  where  he  died 
in  1872.  Treasurer  Knowlton  has 
been  treasurer  so  long  that  he  is  the 
most  thoroughly  posted  man  on  the 
financial  spirit  of  our  church,  and  his 
advice  is  very  valuable  on  any  finan- 
cial problem.  His  reports  for  detail, 
and  accuracy,  are  models,  and  the 
minutes  for  many  scores  of  business 
meetings  would  be  barren  indeed  if  it 
were  not  for  these  carefully  made  re- 
ports. He  has  long  since  learned  to 
patiently  endure  the  carelessness  and 
forgetfulness  of  members,  who  throw 
an  unnecessary  strain  upon  him.  It 
is  certainly  "a  means  of  grace"  to 
him.  Let  us  use  the  church  envelope 
to  pay  our  subscriptions  in,  and  thus 
avoid  errors  and  save  his  valuable 
time.  I  am  sure  no  effort  to  show  our 
appreciation  of  his  long,  and  accurate 
service  would  be  more  acceptable  to 
him  than  a  constant  balance  in  the 
Treasury. 


TRUSTEES 


"Give  an  account  of 

James   Myers,  Nov.  1851. 
T.  I,.  Truman,  Nov.  1851. 
Daniel  Brumley,  Nov.  1851. 
George  Brumley,  July,  1856. 
Alonzo   Stearns,  April  5,  1856. 
E.  S.  Packard,  Feb.  5,  1858. 
James  Myers,  Dec.  10,  1873. 
Dudley  McClain,  Dec.  10,  1873. 
N.  A.  Riley,  Dec.  10,  1873. 
G.  A.  Walker,  Feb.  6,  1881. 
M.  D.  Busey,  1888. 


thy  stewardship." 

B.  S.  Lanham,  March  19,  1884. 
L.   A.   McLean,   March   19,   1884. 
Patrick  Richards,  June  6,  1883. 
M.  D.  Busey,  March  19,  1884- 
B.  S.  Lanham,  1882. 
M.  W.   Kaucher,  Dec.   30,   1891. 
John  Lewis,  January  2,  1895. 
L.  G.  Hubbard,  Jan.  2,  1895. 
Robert  A.  Webber,  Dec.  1,  1891. 
N.  A.  Riley,  Dec.  7,  1898. 
J.  S.  Hall,  Dec.  7,  1899. 


38 


William  Schiff,  June  7,  1899. 

W.  O.  Connor,  Dfcc.  6,  1899. 

Mrs.  R.  A.  Webber,  Dec.  6,  1899. 

Mrs.  Melissa  Carson,  Dec.  31,  1900. 

F.  C.  Hubbard,  Dec.  2,  1901. 

M.  D.  Busey,  1881. 

George   Schiff,  Dec.  2,  1901. 

James  I.   Butler,  Dec.  2,  1901. 

M.  D.  Busey,  Dec.  2,  1901. 

C.  G.  Hopkins,  Dec.   14,   1901. 

C.  A.  Tufts,  Dec.  14,  1901. 

D.  L.  Scroggins,  Sept.  9,  1903. 
Walter  S.  Ware,  Dec.  3,  1803. 
Mrs.  R.  A.  Webber,  Dec.  3,  1903. 
Geo.  M.  Bennett,  Dec.  7,  1904. 


F.  C.  Hubbard,  Dec.  7,   1904. 

Frank  L.  Busey,  May  3,  1905. 

Otis  M.  Percival,  May  3,  1905. 

Wm.  Schiff,  Dec.  5,  1906. 

Mrs.  C.  L.  Van  Doren,  Dec.  5,  1906. 

Frank  L.  Busey,  Dec.  4,  1907. 

H.  P.   Stinespring,   Dec.  4,   1907. 

N.  A.  Riley,  Dec.  2,  1909. 

Wm.  Dietrick,  Dec.  2,  1909. 

C.  J.  Johnson,  Dec.  7,  1910. 

E.  A.  Winchester,  Dec.  7,  1910. 
C.  D.  Gulick,  Dec.  6,  1911. 

F.  C.  Hubbard,  Dec.  6,  1911. 
W.  R.  Barnhart,  Dec.  4,  1912. 
George   Douglass,   Dec.   4,   1912. 


Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Budget 
of  the  necessary  expenses  of  this 
church  is  always  more  than  the  peo- 
ple are  willing  to  subscribe  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  the  church  has 
always  been  in  debt  to  a  greater,  or 
less  extent,  except  at  brief  intervals. 
The  pastor  was  informed  that  there 
was  no  debt  that  was  not  provided  for 
in  good  pledges.  We  cannot  collect 
these  pledges,  and  the  debt  has  been 
growing,  and  would  soon  be  unman- 
ageable. F.  C.  Hubbard,  President  of 
Board  of  Trustees,  feeling  the  sense 
of  responsibility  resting  upon  the  fin- 


nance  committee,  and  trustees,  pro- 
posed a  plan  by  which  two  thousand 
dollars  has  been  pledged,  to  meet  the 
present  deficit,  and  also  to  pay  coal 
bill,  so  that  no  deficit  will  ensue  be- 
cause of  this  special  strain.  A  plan 
will  te  put  on  foot  at  once  to  keep 
out  of  debt.  As  you  read  these  pages 
they  will  not  show  the  hard  work 
necessary  to  get  the  money,  but  they 
will  record  all  bills  paid,  and  no  defi- 
cit. Will  not  all  interested  in  the 
church  help  to  keep  up  this  high 
ideal?  Thank  God  and  Fred  C.  Hub- 
bard and  take  courage. 


HOSPITALITY 

"Given  to  hospitality." 


The  Urbana  church  has  not  been 
lacking  in  hospitality.  The  people  of 
this  church  have  ever  been  delighted 
to  entertain  the  ministers,  and  also 
the  state  convention,  and  the  Bloom  - 
field  Association.  The  following  is 
the  record  of  such  entertainment. 

The  church  entertained  the  state 
convention  in  1879,  1886,  1910;  the 
Bloomfield  association,  1885,  1862, 
1868,  1873,  1883,  1888,  1913. 


As  this  book  goes  to  press  the 
church  is  preparing  to  entertain  the 
Bloomfield  Association.  An  import- 
ant programme  is  in  preparation,  and 
anticipations  are  running  high  that  we 
will  have  one  of  the  best  meetings 
ever  held.  A  Council  is  called  to  meet 
Monday  night  to  recognize  three  new 
churches,  organized  in  Urbana  during 
1912. 


39 


BENEVOLENCE  TABLE 


This  table  begins  with  the  first 
record  of  Mission  money  in  the 
Bloomfield  Minutes.  None  of  the  min- 
utes of  an  earlier  date  contain  any 
reference  to  Mission  money  at  all. 
Sometimes  a  collection  was  taken  in 


bulk  at  the  Association,  but  no  cred- 
its were  given  to  any  local  church. 

The  only  record  of  finance  of  any 
kind  is  money  for  minutes  which  be- 
gan to  be  recorded  in  I860,  and  may 
bt  seen  in  *the  membership  table: 


1                              ®                     m 

^              <?              ^ 
ffi            2.           *d 

.                     OKS 

g 

g 

p 

M              2                _  O 
pf                               —  •  ~ 

§           f3           S-  § 

1877    
1878    
1879    

32.00 
55.00 
35.08 

20.00 
33.9( 
36.1J 

! 

7.00 

25.851 

52.00 
114.75 
78.23 

1880    

30.00 

30.00 

1881    

75.00 

71.9J 

|     32.95]     17.00] 

196.88 

1882    

65.50 

99.5^ 

15.00]     10.00] 

190.04 

1883    

21.85 

67.7E 

17.50]     11.50] 

118.60 

1884    |     13.68 

51.81 

68.20 

7.55]       3.21] 

144.51 

1885    

5.00 

71.31 

53.00 

72.9^ 

18.77 

31.78] 

252.80 

1886    

42.95 

87.7f 

23.50]     33.04] 

107.24 

1887    

14.00 

52.6* 

35.00 

26.45] 

128.13 

1888    

80.00 

18.23 

61.15 

35.00 

32.65 

22.00| 

249.03 

1889    

42.04 

38.64 

29.69 

54.80 

93.38]     73.94 

43.73| 

376.22 

1S90    

9.00 

59.001 

31.1? 

39.70] 

32.50 

171.33 

1891    4.80  f     19.70 

3.3E 

29.70] 

21.00 

78.55 

1892    

50.37 

58.53]       3.07 

41.0f 

23.00]     11.89 

6.00 

193.95 

1893    

39.30 

38.50]     47.04 

94.8F 

36.35]     11.60 

29.25 

296.87 

1894    

10.50 

51.35]       7.32 

42.2? 

19.73 

10.07 

23.95 

165.15 

1895    

17.10 

11.17]     14.25 

11.00 

25.98 

77.50 

1896    

63.851     35.00 

40.45 

31.39 

12.00 

182.69 

1897    ...... 

12.56 

34.40]     14.25 

53.1? 

25.32 

139.71 

1898    

16.10 

52.87]     26.64 

37.90 

29.50 

226.38|     31.40] 

420.79 

1899    

15.00 

58.30      34.50 

45.75 

25.751'    22.35]     27.40! 

229.05 

1900    79.03 

56.68]     30.54 

49.5? 

28J5 

243.98 

1901    54.55 

54.21      32.29 

67.00 

2r.75      13.35]     13.35]       5.00 

261.50 

1902    86.44]   102.51]     63.25 

88.41 

20.'75|     20.00] 

381.36 

1903     74.98      73.06]     26.00]     66.50 

27!00|     20.00|     19.701 

307.24 

1904     59.98|     68.061     28.40 

49.40 

31.00 

11.75 

36.70] 

285.29 

1905     29.00 

10.00|     30.00 

44.00 

26.00 

8.75| 

147.75 

1906    63.22 

43.97]     30.00 

104.12 

30.00 

8.79]     35.11] 

315.21 

1907    

88.24]     42.32]     35.00]     81.07 

25.00 

16.38]     12.75]       6.59|   307.35 

1908    155.33]     95.34|     40.00]   114.17 

46.00]     60.12]     30.11]     11.29]   552.36 

1909    110.76]     95.78 

54.50]   114.72 

52.50 

85.27]     30.29]     11.36 

555.18 

1910    101.87]     62.64]     50.00]  198.31 

37.00 

23.37|     73.37!       8.77 

555.33 

1911    97.42]     64.35]     57.00]   218.69 

47.00]     54.72|     11.751       6.81 

557.74 

1912     148.96]   104.62]     50.00 

215.67 

95.00]     86.61]     30.80]   135.00 

866.66 

1913    

Tot  ]1749.66ll515.02i   871.69|3349.35        943.95]   956.81|2228.44|   184.82J9382.97 

This  table  has  been  prepared  with 
great  care  and  yet  it  is  not  absolute- 
ly correct.  Each  clerk  had  his  way 
of  counting  the  finances  of  the  church 


and  some  did  not  report  the  same  way 
twice  in  succession.  It  is  the  best  we 
can  do. 


40 

CHAPTER  V. 
PAST  MEMBERSHIP 

"Not  one  of  them  is  forgotten  before  God. 


A. 

Adams,  G.   Clarence 
Adams,  Mrs.  Amanda 
Adams,  Annie  M. 
Adams,  Ellis 
Aiken,  Frances 
Allison,  Roy 
Alverson,  C.  G. 
Allen,  Mrs.  Stephen 
Alverson,  Mrs.  C.  G. 
Alsen,  Albert 
Alberts,  Jesse 
Alberts,  Lavada 
Albright,  Mary 
Allen,  Andrew 
Allen,  Amanda 
Allen,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Alper,  Mrs. 
Amsbary,  Bertha 
Ammerman,  D.  R. 
Anderson,   Helen 
Anderson,  S.  B. 
Anderson,  Frank. 
Apperson,  Maria 
Apperson,  Maria 
Apperson,  Virgil 
Apperson,  Francis 
Apperson,  Mary 
Applegate,  Mytrle 
Aper,  Dr. 
Aper,  Julia 
Arms,  Martha 
Askew,  James  N. 
Atkinson,  Mrs.  Annie 
Ater,  Mr. 
Ater,  Mrs. 
Aterton,  Elizabeth 
Ater,  Edward 
Ater,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Ater,  Abraham 
Ater,  Mrs.  Abraham 
Atherton,  W.  C. 
Atherton   Mrs.  W.  C. 
Austin,  C.  Mi 
Austin,  Mrs.  L.  M. 
Austin,  Pearl  M. 
Austin,  Lulu  S. 
Austin,  Maria 
Ayres,  Frank 
Ayres,  Mattio 
B. 

Baird,  Mrs. 
Baird,  Arthur 
Baird,  Hattie 
Brown,  Stella  B. 


Brcwntleld,  Mrs.  Laura 
Baird,  Frank 
Barker,  J.  J. 
Barker,  Nora 
Barnhart,  Charles 
Baird,  Lillie 
Baird,  William 
Bayne,  Frank 
Bailey,  Kate 
Bain,  William 
Bain,  Mrs.  William 
Barton,  Frank 
Barton,  Mrs.  Frank 
Baker,  C.  J. 
Bane,  Mrs.  Martha 
Bass,  William 
Bass,  Mrs.  Rachel 
Bagley,  Anna 
Bailey,  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Barnes,  Mrs.  Mattie  Gill 
Beasley,  Mrs.  William 
Beatty,  F.  M. . 
Beard,  Charles 
Beasley,  William 
Beasley,  Ora 
Beatty.   Owen 
Beardsley,    Arvilla    N. 
Beaupre,  William 
Becker,    Mrs.   Wave 
Beebe,  Ruth 
Beebe,  Nellie 
Beeby,   Mrs.  Frank 
Beebe,  Rev.  W.  H. 
Beebe,  Frank 
Beebe,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Beeker,  Lillie 
Beechman,  Mrs.  Mae 
Beck,   John 
Beebe,   Louis 
Beebe,    Florence 
Beechman,  Loretta 
Behrens,  Mrs.  Anna 
Bell,  Elizabeth 
Bell,  Nancy. 
Benton,  Ethel 
Beneflel.  Edaline 
Benedict,  Mrs.  Mary 
Bennett.  Charles 
Benedict,  Leo 
Benedict,  Ollie 
Bennett,   Clara 
Benedict,  Otis 
Benedict,  Mary 
Baird,  Grace 


Bennett,  Annie 
Bennett,  Lillie 
Benedict,  ertha 
Bingham,  Hester 
Birney,   S.  H. 
Bixler,  Matilda 
Blaydes,   Grace  W. 
Blue,  Mrs.  Minnie 
Blue,  Mrs.  Estella 
Blackburn,  C.  H. 
Blizzard,  Mrs.  Peter 
Blackburn,  Mrs.  Marion 
Blue,  Peter 
Blue,  Nellie 
Blue,   Fredericka 
Blue,  Edith 
Blue,   J.    P. 
Blue.  Alice 
Blackwell,  Anna 
Blackstone,  Mrs. 
Blue,  M.  C. 
Blizzard,    Peter 
Boyd,  S.  M 
Boley,  Katie 
Bond,  Walter 
Booker,   Mrs.   A.  J. 
Boys,  Mrs. 
Boggs,  James 
Boyd,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Bonsson,  Mrs. 
Booker,  Clinton. 
Boone,  Hugh  T. 
Bond,   Mrs.   Walter 
Bond,  J.  M. 
Bonar,  Katie 
Boley,  Jennie 
Boner,  Llbbie 
Bosson,  Mrs 
Bond,  William 
Bradrick,  Mrs.  G.  E. 
Braman,  Martha  J. 
Braman,  Mary  D. 
Brash,  Mrs.  Charles 
Braqkney,  Mrs.  Eiima 
Brash,  Char'es 
Bridge,  Glenn 
Brill,  John 
Brown,  Arthur  A. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Hattie 
Brown>  Rev.  J.  A. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Helen  M. 
Brown, .DeWitt 
Brothers,  uoldis 
Bennett,  Thomas  A. 


41 


Benefleld,  Eva 
Bradford,  Albert 
Brash,  Hannah 
Brash,  David 
Brash,  Wesley 
Brash,  George 
Bryant,  Lillas 
Britton,  (Jertrude 
Breneman,  B.  F. 
Breneman,  Mrs.  Lavinia 
Breneman,  Forest 
Bradford,  Paul 
Breceknridge,  Mrs.  M. 
Brownfleld,  C.  J. 
Brown,  Susan 
Brown,  Peter 
Brown,  Lafayette 
Brown,  Albert 
Brownfield,  Mrs.  Robert 
Brown,  Mary 
Bromley,  Merby 
Bronson,  James 
Brown,  Henry 
Brown,  Sarah 
Brown,  A. 
Brown,  Arthur 
Brown,  Ham. 
Brown,  Mrs.  eJnnie 
Brumley,  Almira 
Bruley,  Lucy  Ann 
Bruce,  Dexter 
Brumley,   David  A. 
Brumley,    Samuel 
Prumley,     Elizabeth 
Brumley,   John 
Bruce,  Mrs.  D.  W. 
Bruce,  Dexter 
Bruce,  Mrs.  Dexter 
Bryan,  Matilda 
Bryant,  Rev.  S.  B.  J. 
Bryant,  Mrs.  S.  B.  J. 
Burke,  Miss  M. 
Burke,  Irene 
Butler,  Mrs.  Angie 
Busey,  Mrs.  Kate 
Butts,  Mrs.  Gertie 
Bullock,  Willie. 
Burke,  W.  C. 
Burnett,  Elizabeth 
Burke,  P.  E. 
Burke,  Isabella. 
Burke,  Willie. 
Burklow,  Mrs.  Ailcy. 
Burke,  Eugene. 
Busey,   Mrs.   Elizabeth 
Busey,   Samuel 
Busey,  Simeon  H. 
Busey,    Minnie 
Busey,  Robert  O. 
Bush,  John  K. 
Butler.  Charles 
Buterfleld,  Mrs.   C.  E. 


Butler,  Richard 
Butler,  Annie 
Busey,   James   S. 
Browning,    George 
Byrd,  Arthur 
Busey,  Mrs.  James  S. 

C. 

Catlett,  Roland 
Cadwell,  H.  S. 
Carnahan,  W.  E. 
Campbell,    Mrs.   M. 
Carter,  Mrs.  S.  S. 
Carpenter,   Mary 
Carey,  Mrs.  Pearl 
Campbell,    Mrs.   M.   P. 
Campbell,   Mary 
Call,  John 
Call.  Levica 
Carman,  Ella 
Carman,  Mrs.  Julia 
Carman,  W.  B. 
Carmna,  John 
Carman,  Rev.  I.  N. 
Carman,  David 
Carson,  Anna 
Call,  Ada 
Carpenter,  Mrs.  L. 
Call,  H.  M. 
Call,   Mrs.   H.  M. 
Castor,  Miss  S.  A. 
Caranahan,  Rev.  D.  F. 
Carnahan,   Mrs.   D.   F. 
Carle,  Ruth 
Campbell,    Quintin. 
Campbell,    Elizabeth. 
Carter,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Call,   Samuel. 
Call,   Mrs.   Samuel. 
Calhoun,  Laura. 
Campbell,  Malinda. 
Cassell,  Benjamin  C. 
Cassell,  Vina. 
Carr,  Sarah. 
Carey,  Elwood. 
Carey,  Elmer. 
Cast'e,  Martha. 
Carey,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Canada,  Mrs.  John 
Call,  N.  M. 
Call,  Mrs.   N.  M. 
Canada.  Mrs.  John 
Chapman,  Warren  S. 
Chapman,  Mrs.  W.  S. 
Chambers,    Margaret 
Chenowith,  Grace 
Cloud,  Ida  Mae 
Campbell,  Gladys 
Clark,  Mrs.  W.  B. 
Clark,  Bert. 
Clark.  F.  J. 
Clellan,  Anna. 
Clements,  Flossie 


Clark,  Mabel. 
Clark,  W.  B. 
Clark,  Mrs.  F.  J. 
Clark,  Miss  Rose. 
Clark,  Myrta. 
Clark,  Mrs.  G.  H. 
Conklin,  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Claybourn,  E.   S. 
Claybourne,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Clements,  Sarah. 
Clift,  P.  P. 
Cliff,  Albert. 
Cliff,  Sarah. 
Cloyd,  Millie. 
Cloyd,  Frank. 
Courtney,   William. 
Cox,  Mrs.  Henry. 
Cooper,   Mrs.  Alice 
Cooper,  Mrs.  Ella 
Comstock,  aDniel. 
Comstock.  Mrs.  E. 
Conklin,  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Coughlin,    Theodore 
Connor,    Mrs.    Bell. 
Cox,    Mrs.    J.    (Frank). 
Coughlin,   Mrs.   B. 
Coffey,   Walter. 
Cooper,  Anna  B. 
Coverdale,   Mrs.   Rosa. 
Cox,  Brother. 
Cox,  Mrs.  Miranda. 
Cox,  George. 
Cooper,    Margaret. 
Courtney,    Frances. 
Collins,  Amelia. 
Collins,  E.  W.  G. 
Collins,  Mrs.  E.  W.  G. 
Courtney,  Anna. 
Cook,    Nancy. 
Cox,  David. 
Cox,  Phoebe. 
Courtney,    Mrs.    Alice. 
Conkle,  Willie. 
Cooper,    Mrs.    Amanda. 
Cox,  William. 
Cox,  Julia. 

Cunningham   Brother. 
Cunningham,  Sister. 
Cunningham,  Minnie. 
Cunningham,    Naaman. 
Cunningham,  Grace. 
Cunningham,   Lulu. 
Cunningham,    E.    H. 
Cunningham,  Mrs.  E.H. 
Cushman,    Mrs.    Ruth. 
Cushman,  E.  H. 
Cushman,   Orinda. 
Cushman,  Elwin. 
Cushman,  Mrs.  M,  Ware 
Cushman,  Lucian. 
Cushman,  eLicester. 
Cushman,  Grace. 


42 


Cushman,   Clara. 
Cushman,    Mother. 
Cutshall,   Ida. 
Clark,  G.  H. 
Clark,  Mrs.  G.  H. 
Clark,   Mytra. 
Cheney,  Charles 
Connor,  Will  O. 
Cox,  Frank. 
Comstock,  Laura. 
Comstock,    Mrs.   A. 
Conkle,  Miranda. 
Coogler,  Emma. 
Crow,  Amanda. 
Creiger,  Lizzie. 
Creech,  William. 
Curtz,  Mrs.  Ida. 
Cutler,  Charles. 
Cutler,  Mrs.   Charles. 
Curts,  William. 
Cushman,  Burritt. 
Cunningham,    Alfie. 
Cushman,  J.  W. 
Cushman,  Maude. 
Cushman,  Mrs.  Lizzie. 

D. 

Davidson,  John. 
Davidson,   Mrs.  John. 
Davis,  Nellie. 
Davison,   Mrs.   Lulu. 
Davis,    Forest. 
Dare,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Dare,   Flora. 
Dass,  John. 
Darling,  J.   C. 
Darling,   Harry. 
Davison,    Frank. 
Davison,  Caroline. 
Danney,  E.  C. 
Danney,  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Davidson,    Albert. 
Davidson,   Mrs.   Alice. 
Davis,  Howe. 
Davis,  Mrs.  N.  M. 
Davis,  Hazel 
Dale,   George. 
Davison,   Mrs.   Hannah. 
Darby,  Harry. 
Davis.  Minnie. 
Davis,  Dorsey. 
Dexter,  Henry  Y. 
Defenbaugh,   Samuel. 
Deck,  Rachel. 
Deck,  Louisiana. 
Depuy,  Louisa. 
Dempsey,  Mollie. 
Deputy,   Miss   Emily. 
Depuy,  George. 
DeAtley,  Ed. 
Depuy,  Mrs.  eGorge. 
Defenbaugh,    Mary. 
Defenbaugh,  William. 


Defenbaugh,  Daniel. 
Dietrick,   Prof.  William 
Dietrick,  Mrs.  William 
Dickerson,    William. 
Dickerson,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Dickerson,    Carrie. 
Douglas,    Josephine 
Douglas,  Mrs.  Samuel. 
Dougan,   Sarah   C. 
Dougan,  Mrs.  L.  (Porta 
Dodge,    Mrs.    Isabella. 
Downs,  Mrs.  M.  R.  C. 
Douglas,  Frank. 
Downs,  John. 
Dodge,  Mary. 
Douglas,  James. 
Dougan,  John  H. 
Dodge,  Albert. 
Doss,  William. 
Dotson,   Rev.  Rual. 
Dougan,  Clara. 
Dougan,   Grace. 
Dougan,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Donahue,  Mrs.  Merby. 
Drago,  Vina. 
Dreese,  Marie. 
Drury,  Alice. 
Durman,  eBnjamin. 
Dudley,  Ella. 
Dudley,  Mrs.  Cora. 
Dunn,   Phoebe. 
Duncan,  Mrs.  James. 
Dunn,    Minnie. 
Duff,  Mary. 
Duff,  Alice. 
Dudley,   Miss   Ella. 
Dudley,  Clara. 

E. 

East,   Mrs.   Mae  Brash. 
Eads,  Lettie. 
Easterbrook,  P.  H. 
Ebert,  Evan. 
Ekborn,  Mrs.   aDisy. 
Ely,   Miss  Daisy. 
Elliot,  Omar. 
Elliott,   James. 
Everett,  Mrs.  J.  T. 
Euripides,    Fijaro. 
Elliott,  Mrs.  Minnie. 
Everett,   Joseph   T. 
Everett,  J.  W. 
Ermentrout,    Daniel. 
Everett,  Charles. 
Everett,  Kate. 

F. 

Farr,  Rev.  A.  L. 
Farrell,   Mrs.  J.   A. 
Farrell,   Halle. 
Ferris.  Stanley. 
Farrow,  Rilla. 
Fenner,  Edith. 
Fenner,    Margaret. 


Fiscus,    Cora. 

Fijardo,  Euripides. 

First,    Mrs.    Maude. 

Fiscus,  Prilla. 

Fitzgerald,    Nettie. 

Fluke,   Mrs.  Eva. 

Fleck,    Mrs.    N.   J. 

Flick,    Nancy. 

Ford,    Merle. 

Ford,  Mabel  H. 

Fox,  Mrs.  Amanda. 

Francis,    Charles    L. 

Franklin,    Harvey. 

Framm,  Wallace. 

Framm,   Mrs.   Mary. 

Frame,    Sim. 

Franklin,  Reisin. 

Frame,  Charles. 

French,  Rev.  D.  S. 

Frizzier,    Laurie. 

Fugate,   Dr.   J.   T. 

Fugate,  Allie. 

Fugate,  Dora. 

Forsythe,  James. 
G. 

Qardner,    William. 

Gardner,  Mrs.  Emma. 

Gardner,    Elsie    Yanos. 

Gardiner,  Willie. 
Gardiner,  Arthur. 
Gardiner,  Lulu  Green. 

Gardiner,  J.  J. 
Gallagher,  Louis. 
Gardner,  Charles  Roy. 
Gardner,  Mrs.  Nellie  R. 
Garrell,  Mr. 
Gere,  Asa. 
Gere,  Lucindas. 
Gere,  Warren. 
Gere,  Eliza. 
Gere,  Harriet. 
Gere,  Louisa. 
Gere,  Frank. 
Gere,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Gibbs,  L.  C. 
Gibbs,   Edith. 
Gill,  William. 
Gill,    Mrs.    Elizateth. 
Gilliland,  Elizabeth  E. 
Gibbs,  J.  R. 
Gibbs,  Mrs.  J.  R. 
Gibbs,  Alice. 
Gibbs.  Mabel. 
Gibbs,   Clark. 
Gibbs,  Willet. 
Glover,  Allen. 
Glenn,  lona  M. 
Glascock,   Kate. 
Goodspeed,    Hurr. 
Goodspeed,  William. 
Goodspeed,  Lute. 
Good,  Nancy  J. 
Good,  Peter. 


43 


Goodspeed,   Clarence. 
Groucher. 
Gary,   Mrs.  John. 
Gere,  Mary. 
Gere,  Nettie. 
Goodspeed,    Isadora. 
Golden,    eJnnie. 
Goodman,    Mrs.    Mae. 
Grant.   William. 
Groom,  J.  K. 
Grant,  Amelia. 
Grant,   Lida. 
Creech,    Mrs.    William. 
Grant,  Fred 
Grant,  Isaac. 
Griffith,  Mary. 
Griffin,  Mrs.  Cora'. 
Granberry,   Miss. 
Griffith,  Herbert. 
Gremberg,  Cla'ra. 
Griffith,  John. 
Grosvener,  Mrs.  Nancy. 
Grimes,  D. 
Griffith,    Frank. 
Griffith,  Mrs.  Ella. 
Graham,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Groom,   Frances. 
Groom,   William. 
Gulick,   Rev.   E.   E. 
Gulick,  H.'  Earl. 
Gulick,   Mrs.  Hattie. 
Gunthorpe,  James  M. 

H. 

Hagan,  Mrs.  Charles. 
Hagan,   Charles. 
Hall,  Julia. 
Hall,  E.  S.         „ 
Hall,  Grace. 
Hall,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Hall,    Mrs.  -ohn. 
Hall,  Lottie  L. 
Hall,   Ellis  B.   . 
Hall,  Mrs.  Viola  R. 
Hall,  Fred  A. 
Hall,  Lydia. 
Hale,  Roy  J. 
Hall,  S.  S. 
Hall,  Mrs.  S.  S. 
Hall,  Walter, 
Hall,  E.  P.    ,  , 
Ham,  W.   H. 
Ham,  Willard 
Ham,  Jacob. 
Haney,  Mrs.  Linda  Ann. 
Hanes,'  Mrs.   Eliza. 
Hamilton,   Cecil. 
Haney,   Mrs>  Bell. 
Haney,  James. 
Haney,   Delia  Iva. 
Haney,  Alice. 
Haney,  Anna  Myrtle. 


Harmison,  G.   A. 
Harrison,   Donald. 
Harrison,    Jeanette. 
Harvey,  Mary  E. 
Harmison,   Rebecca. 
Harding,    Lucinda. 
Harland,   Louisa. 
Harmison,  Samuel  B. 
Harland,    Charles. 
Harvey,    Charles    O. 
Harvey,  Lucy  M. 
Harris,   Dora    M. 
Hargis,   W.   I. 
Hart,  Maud. 
Harmison,   Rosetta. 
Hawk,  Isaac. 
Hawk,   Mary   F. 
Hawker,   WiUiam- 
Hawker,    Mattie. 
Hawk,  Russel. 
Hawk,  Frank. 
Hawker,  Charlie. 
Hawker,   D.   W. 
Hawker,  Frank. 
Hawn,    Mrs.    Luella. 
Hawker,   Stephen. 
Hawley,  Emma. 
Ha*wley,  Lucy. A. 
Harris,  Charles. 
Harvey,  Libby. 
Hawley,  Frank. 
Hayworth,  Emma. 
Hays,  Fred. 
Harvey,  Mary  E. 
Hawk,    Merl. 
Hawkins,  P,  E. 
Hawn,  Nellie. 
Hawn,   Albert   E. 
Hays,  C.  C. 
Hays,  Mrs.  C.  C. 
Hays,  Eva. 
Head,  Augustine. 
Hedges,   Emma. 
Hendricks,  Nellie. 
Heller,  Mrs.  ohn. 
Henning,  Daisy. 
Heller,   Marion. 
Henderson,  Daisy. 
Hensing.    Jeronimo. 
Heckler.  Alohzo. 
Heller,   John. 
Heller,  Mary. 
Hedges,    Samuel    B. 
Hedges,    rMs.    S.   B. 
Heller,   James. 
Heller,   Florissa. 
Henderson,   Clara  I. 
Kerrigan,   John. 
Heckler,   Charles. 
Heckler,  Mrs.  R.  M. 
Kerrigan,  Guy. 


Herrick,  Burton. 
Herrick,  Mrs.  Lavinia. 
Kerrigan,  Mrs.  John. 
Herriott,  Mrs.  Viva. 
Kerrigan,  Mary. 
Hews,  A.  H. 
Higgins,    Mrs.   Amanda. 
Higgins,  Charles. 
Higgins,    Calvin. 
Higgins,  Amanda. 
Higgins,   Lewis. 
Higgins,    Sarah. 
Higgins,  Jennie. 
Hill,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Hill,   Edward. 
Hively,  James. 
Hively,  Mary  A. 
Higgins,  Effie. 
Higgins,  Charles. 
Hinckly,  Emma. 
Hines,   Mrs.  Laura 
Hills,  F.  C. 
Kills,  Annie. 
Hill,  Joseph. 
Howard,   William. 
Howard,   Mrs.   Mary   A. 
Hopkins,   Robert   E. 
Howser,   eGor^e. 
Howser,  Ethel. 
Horton.   Clyde. 
Hodge,  Jennie  F. 
Howard,  rMs.  Clara. 
Hopkins,  Myrtle. 
Hodge,  Thomas. 
Hodge,  Mrs.  Drusilla. 
Howser,   Anna   Esther. 
Hopkins,    C.    G. 
Hopkins,   Mrs.   Emma. 
Howser,  Mrs.  Emma  E. 
Holland,   Nettie   F. 
Hovey,  Nettie  F. 
Hovey,    Selden   P. 
Holmes,  Polly. 
Hollister,    Flora    T. 
Howser,  Louisa. 
Houchins.    Huldah. 
Howser,   Minnie. 
Howe,  Hattie. 
Howe,  Grace. 
Houston,   Mrs.    H.    A. 
Holmes,  Mrs.  C.  B. 
Howser,  David. 
Howser,  Mary. 
Howser,  Jennie. 
Horn,  L.  W. 
Howard,   Silas. 
Hogge,  Mrs. 
Horn,   Luster   A. 
Hudson,  Mrs.  Clara. 
Hunt,   Mrs.   E.   Green. 
Hutson,   Eugenie. 


Hubbard,   Geo.   D. 
Kurd,  Chester. 
Higgins,   Mrs.   S.   B. 
Hubert,    J.    I. 
Hughs. 

Huxley  Sister. 
Hurd,  J.  C. 
Hurd,    Mrs.   Martha. 
Huhn,  Katie. 
Hubbard,  Charles. 
Hull,  John. 
Hughes,   Martha. 
Hurd,  Clinton. 
Hurd,  Joseph. 
Hurd,  Jarvis. 
Hurd,   Simpson. 
Hull    Cantonia  Gill. 

I. 

Innes,   Stella. 
Innes,   Dorothy. 
Innes,    Mrs.    Emma. 
Ingraham.    Charles. 
Ireland,   J.   P. 
Itz,  Henry. 

J, 

Jackson,   Letitia. 
Janner,  Mary. 
Jaquith,  Jessie  D. 
Jaquith,   Mrs.   Jesse. 
Jarrett,  ohn. 
Jarvis,    Mrs. 
James,  Edward. 
James,  Mrs.  Anna  D. 
Jackson,  George  W. 
Jackson,    Lavinia. 
Jameson,   Mrs.  Fannie, 
pohnson,    James    E. 
Johnson,  J.  J. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Johnson,    lantha   B. 
Johnson,   Harry   B. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Jennie. 
Johns,  Rev.  H.  A. 
Johns,  Mrs.  H.  A. 
Jones,  R.  A. 
Jones,   Sarah. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Effle. 
James,  Mrs.  Elizabeth. 
Jones,  Lewis. 
Johnson,    Wilbur. 
Johnson,   Mary. 
Jones,    Florence    M. 
Jolly,  Arleigh   C. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  W.  C. 
Jones,  Ivan. 
Jones,   Elizabeth. 
Jones,   Mrs.   Amy. 
Johnson.  Mrs.  Julia. 
Jones,  Frank. 
Jones,   Orin. 
Jones,    Kersey. 
Jones,  Lewis. 


Jordan,  Lizzie. 
Jones,  Amy. 
Jones,    Samuel    B. 
Johnson,    Lucy. 
Jutton,  Mary  Busey. 
Justus,   Mrs.   M.  A. 
Justus,  Ida. 
Julian,  E.  W. 

K. 

Kennedy,  M.  W. 
King,    Hudson. 
King,    Hudson. 
Kiler,  Mrs.   Charlotte. 
Kirkland,  Rev.  J.  P. 
Kirkland,   Mrs.  Maggie. 
Kirkland,    Mjonnie. 
King,    Mrs.   Anna. 
Kinnear,  Stephen. 
Kinnear,  Mrs.  Stephen. 
Kimterlin,    Nettie. 
Knight,   Ida. 
King,  Lillie. 
Kirby,  Rebecca. 
Kirby,    Francis. 
Kirkpatrick,    Mrs.    V. 
Klackner.    August. 
Kirtley,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Kirtly,    W.    H. 
Klinger,-  Mrs.    ate. 
Knox,    Mrs.   Jane. 
Knowlton,  Lizzie. 
Knowlton,  W.  M. 
Koch,  Florence. 
Koch,  Lloyde. 
Koch,  Edna. 
Koch,  Mrs.  Florence. 
Kaisel,   Lewis. 
Kaucher,    Martin. 
Kaucher,  Mrs.  Mary  F. 
Kemmer,   John. 
Kellar,   Scott. 
Kennedy,  Mrs.  John. 
Keeler,   eLna. 
Kesler,  Lola. 
Kennedy,   C.   F. 

L. 

Lanham,  B.  8. 
Lanham,  Mrs.  B.  S. 
Lanham,    George. 
Lawrence,   Mrs. 
Lackey,  Mrs.  Eli. 
Lackey,   Maud. 
Landis,  John. 
Landis,  Mrs.  A. 
Lawrence,  Sister. 
Lawrence,    Minnie. 
Lawrence,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Lackey,  E. 
Leavitt,  Rev.  F.  J. 
Leavitt,  Mrs.  Fannie. 
Leavitt,   Mrs.  Lillie   H. 
Leavitt,  Rev.  J.  A. 


Leavitt,  Hallie. 
Leavitt,  Lulu. 
Leavitt,    Elgin. 
Leavitt,    Ralph. 
Lee,  aMrion. 
Lee,    Lillian. 
Lee,  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Lemon,    Mrs.    aMtilda. 
Lemmen,    Susie. 
Leney,   Mrs.   Etta. 
Leib,  Harry  E. 
Leming,   Mrs.   Mary. 
Lesure,  Mrs.  C.  S. 
Lewis,  Ida  M. 
Lewis,  Ralph. 
Lewis,   Stanley. 
Lewis,  Lucy. 
Lewis,  John  M. 
Lewis,  Fannie. 
Lewis,   Hannah. 
Lewis,  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Linch,  Bessie  Mae. 
Littler,  Frank. 
Lindley,  Clara. 
Littler,  Mrs.  Laban. 
Litler,  Samuel. 
Littler,   Sarah. 
Lloyd,  D.  H. 
Lloyd,  Mrs.  D.  H. 
Lloyd,  Frank. 
Lochrie,   Addie. 
Lott,  Mrs.  Susan. 
Lowe,  Amanda. 
Long,    Miss    Cora. 
Lund,  Exerett. 
Lumley,  Mrs.  Nellie. 

M. 

Maguire,  N. 
Maguire,  John. 
Maguire,  William. 
Maguire,    Marcellus. 
Maguire,  Morley. 
Maguire,   Mrs.   Nettie.. 
Majors,    Mollie. 
Malone,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Manney,  Mary  J. 
Manson,  Mrs.  F. 
Manning,    Hannah. 
Mansfield,    Jessie. 
Mapes,   Charles. 
Mapes,   Mrs.  Delia. 
Mapes,  Edgar. 
Mapes,  Fred. 
Mapes,  Mrs.  Phoebe. 
Martin,  J.  L. 
Martie,  Elmer. 
Martin,   Sarah. 
Martin,   Margaret. 
Martin,   Eunice. 
Martin,  Hugh. 
Markley,  Fannie. 
Markley,  J.  H. 


45 


Mathews,  Harvey. 
Maxwell,  Charles. 
McBlenne,    Mrs.    R. 
Markley,  Flora. 
Merchant,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Mitchell,   Mrs.  Erne. 
Moody,  Mrs.  W.  M. 
Moore.  Mrs.  Lou. 
McCord,    Margaret. 
McCloskey,   Mrs.   Mary. 
McCloskey.    Thomas. 
McCloud,    Gus. 
McCool,  E.  H. 
McClurg,    Ernest. 
McCool,   eParl. 
McClain,   Frank. 
McClain,   Sallie. 
McClain,   Clara. 
McCurnes,   Kittie. 
McCurnes,  Mabel. 
McClain,  Mamie. 
McCloud,  Emma. 
McClelland,  Alexander. 
McClelland,  Geneva. 
McClain,   Charles. 
McCoy,  Martha. 
McClain,  J.  H. 
McClain,  Mrs.  J.  H. 
McClain,  Dudley. 
McClain,  Rebecca. 
McClain,   Allan. 
McClain,   Allan. 
McClain,    Elizabeth. 
McClain,  Addie. 
McClelland,  Anna. 
McCullough,    Maggie. 
McClain,  Bessie. 
McDonald,  Florence. 
McDonald,   William. 
McFarland,  Mrs.  B.  F. 
McFarland,   Frank. 
McjGjilltelantfi    Nellie. 
McLennen,   Duncan. 
Mclntyre,   'Curtis. 
Mclntyre,  Jennie. 
Mclntyre,  Hattie. 
McLennen,    Mrs.   D. 
McLennen,   Alexander. 
McLennen,   Mrs.   Alex. 
McLennen,  Jessie. 
McLennen,  Zan. 
Mclntyre,   rMs.   Maude. 
McLaughlin,   Jarrett  E. 
Mclntyre,  Mrs.  Mary. 
McLean,   Clair. 
Mclnnes,  Mrs.  F. 
Merrick,  Mrs.  Harry. 
Merrifleld,   Mary   O. 
Mendenhall,  Mrs.  Belle. 
Mills,  Rev.  J.  F. 
McLaughlin,  Mrs.  E. 


McLennen,  Emma  Ross 
McGeorge,   Laura. 
McLennen,   Katie. 
McLennen,  Aggie. 
McWilliams,   Emma. 
Mercer.   Mrs.  James   B. 
Mechling,   L.   M. 
Mechling,  Mrs.  L.  M. 
Merrick,   Harry. 
Meigs,   Mrs.  R.  V. 
Meigs,  Rev.  R.  V. 
Merrifield^    Leonard. 
Mills,    Mrs.    J.    F. 
Miller,  Jacob. 
Mix,   Martin. 
Miner,  T.   Ralph. 
Miner,  James  H. 
Miner,  Mrs.  Mary  D. 
Miner,   Fred   G. 
Miller,   Riley. 
Miller,    Elizabeth. 
Miller,  Lena. 
Mitchell,  Maud. 
Miner,    Mrs.    P.    B. 
Michs.  Sister. 
Mitchell,  Jane. 
Miller,   Emma. 
Miller,  Mrs.  Caroline. 
Miller,  Daisy. 
Miller,   Ona. 
Miller,  Walter. 
Miller,    Joseph. 
Miller,  W.  K. 
Moody,   Mrs.  W.  M. 
Mosely,  Mrs.  Sarah  M. 
Moore,  Rosa. 
Morgan,  A.  W. 
Morgan,   Mrs.   L.  G. 
Morgan,  Bertha  L. 
Morgan,   Stella  W. 
Morgan,  Alfred  R. 
Morrison,  eParl. 
Morrison,   James. 
Morrison,  Minnie. 
More,  Robert. 
Morris,  Mary. 
Moore,    Clementine. 
More,  Peter. 
Morehouse,  D.  C. 
Morehouse,  Mrs.  D.  C. 
Morehouse,  Arthur. 
Morehouse,    Arthur. 
Montezuma,    Carlos. 
Moore,  W.  A. 
Moore,   Mrs.   W.   A. 
Munger,    Mrs.    Etta. 
Murdock,  Paul. 
Murphy,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Mykins,   Mrs.   M.  L. 
Myers,   A. 
Myers,  Mrs.  James 


Myers,  James  M. 
Myers,    Julia. 
Myers,   Mrs.  Anna. 
Myers,   Mrs.   ames. 
Myers,  Mrs.  James. 

N. 

Nelden,  George. 
Newburn,  G.  E. 
Newell,   Rev.    Isaac. 
Nichols,  Ralph. 
Newport,  T.  J. 
Nolan,  Miss  Bell. 
Nolan,    Thomas. 
Nolin,  James  B. 

O. 

Oburn,  Rush. 
Oburn,  August. 
Oburn,  Letita. 
Oburn,    William. 
O'Bryant,  Annie. 
O'Bryant,  Clara. 
Ogden,  Charles  L. 
O'Harra,    Elizabeth. 
O'Harra,   Arthur. 
Oleson,  Albert. 
Orendorf,  Mrs.  Ethel 
Orendorf,  Charles  D. 
Osgood,  Huldah. 
Osborn,  Charles  A. 
Ouderkirk,    Mr. 
Ouderkirk,  Mrs. 
Overstreet,  Mrs.  Mabel. 

P. 

Parris,    Beulah. 
Parker,   Lulu. 
Parker,  W.  W. 
Parker,    Mrs.    Adeline. 
Patton,  A.  S. 
Patton,   Mrs.  A.   S. 
Parnell,   John. 
Palmer,   Landon. 
Page,    Sarah. 
Parnell,  Guy. 
Paris,  Ethel. 
Patton,  Mrs.  Minnie. 
Parnell,    Charles. 
Patterson,  Matilda. 
Palmer,  Laura  B. 
Personette,    Mrs.    Etta. 
Personette,    Anna. 
Perry,   Mary   C. 
Perry,  George. 
Peacock,   J.  William. 
Peacock,  Emma  L. 
Perry,   Cora. 
Perry,  Mary  L. 
Peshing,  W.  L. 
Pershing,  Mrs.  W.  L. 
Perry,  E.  S. 
Potts,  Ethel. 
Packard,  E.  S. 


46 


Pool,  Rev.  John  A. 
Perry,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Phillips,  .Wheeler. 
Phillips,  J.  S. 
Phillips,  Miss. 
Phillips,    Sarah. 
Parris,  Hazel 
Pilcher,  G.  Wiley. 
Pilcher,  Bliss  A. 


Pilcher,  Mrs.  Lennie. 
Pickard,   Ada.. 
Pilcher,   Gleason. 
Pitman,   Clara. 
Pickerell,    Lawrence. 
Pittman,  Frank. 
Poley,  Mrs.  Sadie. 
Porter,    Lewis. 
Porter,  Rev.  aDniel  T. 
Platt,    Mrs.   E. 
Porter,  Eda. 
Porucas,   Mrs.    H.   M. 
Porter,  Ambrose. 
Powell,  Mrs.  Matilda  E. 
Powers,  H.  M. 
Porter,   Delilah. 
Prim,   Rev.   J.   W. 
Primm,  Mrs.   J.  W. 
Prim,    Pauline. 
Primm,  Clara. 
Primm,  Phillip. 
Prim,   James. 
R. 

Radley,   Amanda   L. 
Radebaugh,    Grace. 
Radebaugh,    S.   B. 
Radebaugh,    Olive. 
Ramsey,  Mrs. 
Ramsey,    Hattie. 
Ramsey,    Eliabeth. 
Radley,  Sarah  Ann. 
Radebaugh,  Ina. 
Radebaugh,  Addie  Mae. 
Radebaugh,  Clarence. 
Radebaugh,    Otis. 
Reeves,   S. 

Reeves,   Mrs.   Florence. 
Reid,  Leonard. 
Reid,  Lena. 
Reid,  Charles. 
Reeves,  Mrs.   J.   C. 
Reinhart,  Matthias. 
Reeves,  Edson. 
Reeves,   Mason. 
Reeves,  Howell. 
Reeves,    Fannie    S. 
Reynolds,  H.  S. 
Reynolds,  Addie  F. 
Retzolk,    Mrs.    Mary. 
Rehberg,  Fred. 
Rehberg,  Mrs.  Fred. 


Reynolds,   J.   A. 
Reynolds,  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Reynolds,  H,  S. 
Rea,  Mrs.  Sarah  P. 
Reeves,  William. 
Renfrew,   Delia. 
Reese,  John. 
Reese,  Rev.  Ira  H. 
Richter,   Ralph. 
Riley,   Ozias. 
Riley,  Mrs.  Ozias. 
Rittenhouse,  Mrs. 
Riley,    Annie. 
Riley,  Emma. 
Riley,  Maggie. 
Riley,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Riley,  Mrs.  Bethire. 
Richter,  H.  A. 
Richter,  Mrs.  H.  A. 
Richardson,  W.  B. 
Richardson,  Cecil. 
Richards,  Patrick. 
Rice,  Miss. 
Richardson,   Z. 
Richardson,   Mrs.  Z. 
Roach,  Mrs.   Flora. 
Roughtcn,    Stokey. 
Roberts,   Lovida. 
Robertson,  James. 
Robertson.  Mrs.  James. 
Roe,  J.  W. 

Romine,    Mrs.    Maggie. 
Ross,  C.  N. 
Roach,  David. 
Roach,    Carrie. 
Robert,  Sadie. 
Rogers,   Henry  B. 
Ppgers,    Margaret. 
Romine,    James. 
Romine*    Mrs.    James. 
Roach,   John. 
Romine,   W.    H. 
Romine,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Roach,    Mrs.    S. 
Roughton,    Samuel. 
Roe,  James  T. 
Roe,    Lillie. 
Roberts,   Lydia. 
Romine,  Mrs.  Louisa. 
Roberts,  Mrs.  Sadie. 
Roberts,   Joseph   M. 
Russell,   H.   T. 
Rugg,   Rev.   M.   L.   D.D. 
Rugg,  Mrs.  Lillie  A. 
Rugg,   Arthur  E. 
Hugg.    Herbert. 
Ruggles,   Jennie   F. 
Russell,  Hugh. 
Ruggles,    Ernest. 
Ross,    Mrs.    Eva. 
Rugg,  Mrs.  Edna. 


Sargeant,   Mrs.   Laura. 

S. 

Sampson,  John. 
Sampson,  Clarence. 
Sadorus,  Hattie. 
Sage,  Rev.   E.   C. 
Sage,   Mrs.  E.  C. 
Sanderson,    "Sarah. 
Saulsberry,  Miss. 
Sayers,  Miss  Emma. 
Sampson,  Ed. 
Seaman,   Ed. 
Scott,   Mrs.    Susan. 
Scott,   Melissa. 
Schuppel,  Charles  H. 
Schoon,  John. 
Schoon,  Mrs.  Jessie. 
Schif,  Querin. 
Scott,   Johanna. 
Schlorff,  Mrs.  May. 
Scott,  Joanna. 
Scloan,  John. 
Schiff,   William. 
Schiff,  Anna. 
Schiff,  Mary. 
Schiff,   John. 
Schiff,  Sarah. 
Schiff,  Mrs.  Mae. 
Scleik,  Mrs.  Maggie. 
Scott,    Mrs.    Anna   Lee. 
Scott,  Mabel. 
Shaw,  Earl. 
Shaw,  Nellie. 
Shaw,  Mrs. 
Shepherd,  W.  A. 
Shroyer,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Shott,    Mrs.    Kate    J. 
Shrei,    Freeamn. 
Shannon,  Mary  E. 
Shepherd,   Charles. 
Shannon,  Amy. 
Shepherd,  Mrs.  Cyrus. 
Shepherd,   Miss. 
Smith,   Mary. 
Shepherd,  E. 
Slater,   Peter. 
Slater,  Elizabeth. 
Smith,    Mrs.    Mary. 
Smith,  Elizabeth. 
Sides,  D.  A. 
Sides,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Smith,   Arthur  W. 
Shannon,    Olie. 
Slade,  Mrs.   , 
Si  1  key,  J.  P. 
Silkey,   Mrs.   Catherine. 
Shannon,  Mertie. 
Slater,    Robert. 
Smith,  Paul. 
Smith,    Margaret. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Aggie. 


47 


Smith,  Mrs.  Margaret. 
Smith,    Lafayette. 
Smith,    George. 
Skidmore,   Mark. 
Silver,  Raymond. 
Sloan,    Minerva. 
Slater,  Emma. 
Slater,  Francis. 
Slater,  Lydia. 
Slater,  Mary. 
Slater,  Eleanor. 
Roberts,  Marion. 
Shaw,  Willie. 
Stevens,  R.  H. 
Surbaugh,  Ida. 
Surbaugh,  Charles. 
Shepherd,  W.  A. 
Shaffer,   Mrs.   Flora. 
Sipes,   Daniel  A. 
Sites,  Mrs.  N.  J. 
Simms,  Etta. 
Slade,  W.  S. 
Slade,   Mrs.   America. 
Slade,  Henry. 
Slade,  Amelia. 
Sloan,  Mrs.  Minerva. 
Smalley.  Rev.   Freeman 
Smith,  Rev.  W.  W. 
Smith,   Blachley. 
Strak,  George. 
Stevens,  Katie   A. 
Straight,  Mrs. 
Straight,    Charles. 
Steerens,    Franklin. 
Stark,  Charles. 
Stark,   Mrs.   Amanda. 
Strale,   Charles. 
Steadman,  A.   B. 
Stanard,  Burt. 
Stevenson,    Lizzie. 
Stout,  Irene. 
Stamp,  Mrs.  Anna. 
Sutherland,  G.  Fred. 
Sullivan,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Surbaugh,    Mollie. 
Surbaugh,   Mrs.   Louise. 
Seward,  Rev.  A.  L. 
Sweet,   Wm.    P. 
Stearns,   Alonzo. 
Stevenson,    Arthur. 
Stovel,    Mrs.    Annie. 
Smith,  Rosa  S. 
Snyder,   John. 
Snyder,   E.   M. 
Sprouse,    Mrs.    M.    A. 
Snyder,  Wm.  H. 
Snyder,   Charles. 
Slade,  Lucy  E. 
Snedaker,  Abraham. 
Snedaker,    Mrs.   A. 
Smith,  James  S. 


Snideman,  Laura. 
Snyder,  John. 
Snyder,  Mrs. 
Smith,  Mrs.  R.  S. 
Smith,  G.  W. 
Snider,   Drusilla. 
Smith,  Sarah. 
Somers,  Mrs.  Ada. 
Somers,  Mabel. 
Somers,  Charles. 
Somers,   Mrs.   C. 
Spencer,  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Sparks,  John. 
Spence,  Ina. 
Spooner,    Mrs.    Dr. 
Spencer,  James. 
Spencer,  C.  A. 
Spencer,  Newton  C. 
Spencer,  Julia. 
Spurgion,    Susanna. 
Steadman,   Rev.   W.    H. 
Steadman,  Belle  K. 
Steadman,  Mrs. 
Steadman,    Fannie. 
Stidham,   Mary. 
Stidham,  John  D. 
Stidham,  Joseph  P. 
Stidham,  Sarah. 
Stemfleld,  Mrs. 
Steele,  Henry. 
iStu'bbe,    Hamilton. 
Staley,   Mrs. 
Stallings,  W.   I. 
Stark,    Mrs.    Mattie. 
Stevenson,   Arthur. 
Stidham,  Emma. 
Stovel,    Mabel. 
Strover,    Mrs.    Mary. 
Stevens,  R.  H. 
Stearns,  Mrs.  Delia. 
Sturkins,   James. 
Sturkins,  Mrs.  Annette. 
Stevens,  A.  Woodward. 
Stevens,  Mrs.  A.  W. 
Stamey,  Nancy  D. 
Stanfleld, 

Starkey,  Mrs.    (Wood) 
Starks,  Mrs. 
Straigdt,  Grace  A. 
Steele,   Mrs. 
Stevens,   Sybil. 
Swain,  Sarah  E. 
Swartout,   Mrs.   L. 

T. 

Tackey,    Amelia. 
Taylor,   William. 
Taylor,   Henry. 
Taylor,  John. 
Tanner,    Mary. 
Taylor,    Phillip. 
Taylor,  Rev.   Mr. 


Taylor,  Amanda. 
Temple,  Mrs.  Stella. 
Terry,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Tenbrink,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Telford,  Mrs.  Fred. 
Terrill,   Mrs.   Lucia. 
Teters,   Mrs. 
Thayer,  Mrs.  Lottie. 
Thomas,  Frank. 
Thomas,    Mrs.    Ida. 
Thornton,  A. 
Thorpe,  Mrs.  Carrie. 
Thomson,  Belle. 
Thompson,   Mrs.   Mollie 
Thomas,   J.   F. 
Throckmorton,  Mrs.  E. 
Titus,  E.  S.  G. 
Titus,   Mrs.   Laura. 
Terrain,  Annie. 
Terry,  E.  A. 
McClain,  Annie. 
Tips,  Mrs.  Minnie. 
Tilbrook,  Anna. 
Timmons,  Lura. 
Timpson,  John. 
Todd,  Belle. 
Towel,  Mrs.  Maria. 
Toy,  Frank. 
Trauer,   Mrs.   Lottie   B. 
Truman,   J.    L. 
Tracy,  Mary 
Truman,    Pepnth:ih. 
Truman,  Mrs.  Jephthah 
Trenary,    Evander. 
Truman,  T.  L. 
Trenary,  Lizzie. 
Trenary,    Charles. 
Trenary,  Elizabeth. 
Truman,    Elizabeth. 
Trenary,   Randolph. 
Trenary,  Mary  A. 
Tumelson,   Mrs.  Ruby. 
Tufts,  J.  S. 
Turnipseed,    Mrs. 
Turner,  Charles. 
Tucker,  Mrs.  Fuaice. 

U. 
Underbill,   Maud. 

V. 

Van  Buskirk,  Julia. 
Van   Doren,   r>ora  Ann. 
Van  Doren,   Robert. 
Vandevort,   JamieEon. 
Van  Zandt,  J    G. 
Van    Zandt,    Mrs.    J.    G. 
Vickers,  William. 
Vickers,  M.iry. 
Vaughn,  Mrs.  Addie. 

W. 

Wade,    Benjamin. 
Walker,  Maggie  B. 


48 


Ware,  Walter  S. 
Watson,   John. 
Walker,   H.  E. 
Walker,   Mrs.  H.  E. 
Walker,    Staunton. 
Wagner,   Viola. 
Wascher,  Frank. 
Wascher,   Mrs.   Frank. 
Ward,  Robert. 
Warren,  Fannie. 
Walters,   Mrs.   Ellis. 
Wardall,  Lillian  N. 
Walker,   Experience. 
Walruth,  A. 
Washington,  Mrs.  M. 
Wall,  Mrs. 
Watch,  Angie. 
Waller,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Waller,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Waldt,  Emma. 
Waldt,   Charles. 
Ward,   Uriah  B. 
Watson,   Lovida. 
Watkins,    Sloan. 
Walker,   G.   A. 
Ware,  Mrs.  Mae. 
Walters,    Mrs.    Martha. 
Webber,  Robert  A. 
Warrick,   Theron. 
Webber,  Mrs.  Anna  B. 
Webber,  J.  Clay. 
Webb,   Mrs.   Minnie. 
West,   Mrs.   E.   N. 
Webber,  Lois  E. 
Webber,  Geo.  W. 
Webber,  Mrs.  Alice.  E. 
Webber,  Fred. 
Webber,   Sallie. 
Weeks,  Carrie. 
Wellman,  Laura. 


Westburg,  Mrs.  Emma. 
West,  Amanda  L. 
Wheelock,   Clifford. 
Wheelock,    George. 
Wheaton,    Mrs.    Clara. 
White,  Miss. 
Whiteneck,    Emma. 
Williamson,  Amelia. 
Williamson,    Mary. 
Williamson,  William. 
Williamson,    Mrs.    Wm. 
Williamsey,    Mrs. 
Williams,   Arthur. 
Wills,  Charles. 
Wills,   Millie. 
Wilson,  J.  W. 
Wilson,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Wilcox,    Rev.    Nathan. 
Wilcox,    Mrs.    Jane. 
Wiseman,  Mrs.  Mary. 
Wingler,    Nellie. 
Wingler,  Walter. 
Wingler,   Mrs.   Mary  C. 
Winkley,  Ed.  C. 
Winger,  John  H. 
Winters,   Bessie. 
Winters,  Sarah. 
Winters,  Harry. 
Winters,    John. 
Winters,   Stella. 
Winchester,   Effie. 
Woody,   W.   N. 
Woolhouse,  Rev.  E. 
Woolhouse,  Mrs.   E. 
Woolhouse,    Lolela. 
Woolhouse,    Jennie. 
Woolhouse,   Dwight. 
Woolman,    Mrs.    Zenia. 
Winchester,  Effie. 
Woods,    Mamie. 


White,  S.  C. 
Wigner,  G.  H. 
Wigner,  A.  J. 
Wiley,  Francis  R. 
Wills,  Mrs.  Nancy. 
Wills,    David. 
Wills,  Mrs.  David. 
Wills,  Nancy. 
Wilcox,    Jane. 
Woodworth,   Howard. 
Woodworth,  Mrs.  M.  C. 
Woolf,  A. 
Woodworth,  M.  C. 
Wright,    Harold. 
Wright,  Thyrl. 
Wright,  Frances. 
Wright,    Helen. 
Wright,  Earl. 
Wright,    Julius. 
Wright,   Ruth. 
Wright,  Allen. 
Wright,  Mrs.  E.  R. 
Wright,  Mrs.  Ella. 
Wright,  Marietta. 
Wright,    Lindley    A. 
Wright,  Mrs.  Taylor. 
Wright,  Effie. 
Wright,   Emma. 
Wright,    Mattie. 
Wright,   S.  C. 
Wright,  Edward. 
Wright,  Mrs.  Edith. 

Y. 

Yant,  William  A. 
Yant,  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Yanos,    Mrs.    Maggie. 
Yanos,  Edward. 
Yeo,  Hael  Bird. 

Z. 
Zimmermann,    Simeon. 


Membership    of    the    Past. 

The  Historical  Committee  greatly 
regrets  the  loss  of  all  records  of 
membership  back  of  1872.  In  so  far 
as  names  were  carried  into  the  new 
records  beginning  January,  1872,  they 
are  included  here.  It  is  absolutely 
impossible  to  get  these  lost  names  in 
any  way.  The  loss  covers  a  period  of 
34  years.  Brother  L.  A.  McL«ean 
copied  the  general  history  from  the 
old  book  that  is  lost,  and  the  Com- 
mittee hereby  expresses  its  gratitude 
that  we  have  that  part  which  estab- 


lishes beyond  doubt  the  time,  and 
peculiar  cricumstances  under  which 
the  church  was  organized.  A  com- 
plete list  of  thirteen  constituent 
members  are  mentioned  in  the  gener- 
al history,  and  the  official  directory  is 
almost  perfect.  Every  inducement 
has  been  offered  to  search  for  the  old 
book,  and  yet  no  trace  of  it  can  be 
fcund.  However  a  very  large  number 
of  people  are  named  above  who  came 
in  during  the  time  covered  by  the  lost 
book.  It  has  been  possible  to  estab- 
lish how  most  of  that  early  date  went 
out  of  the  church,  but  to  publish  that, 


49 


with  how  they  came  in,  and  went  out 
since  1872,  would  exceed  the  limits  of 
our  space,  and  not  be  of  any  special 
value  except  to  a  few.  This  list  of 
1540  is  given  above,  with  the  assur- 
ance that  it  is  the  best  that  can  be 
done,  but  is  by  no  means  correct. 

In  view  of  the  usual  carelessness 
of  clerks  of  that  early  day,  and  also 
the  fact  that  this  church  has  had  an 
unusual  history  in  the  addition  of 
many  persons  to  her  membership,  who 
moved  away,  and  were  never  heard 
from  afterwards,  also  many  married, 
and  the  change  of  names  was  not 
noted,  and  they  were  thus  lost  to  the 
cause  by  lapse  of  address.  It  is  pos- 
sible that  the  membership,  if  we 
could  re-establish  it  from  the  lost 
book,  allowing  for  usual  imperfection 
in  reeords  of  the  times,  would  easily 
reach  2,000. 


If  any  reader  of  these  pages  can 
supply  any  names  of  persons  certain- 
ly members  of  the  First  Church,  Ur- 
bana,  at  any  time  during  its  history, 
and  not  found  on  these  lists,  the  His- 
torical Committee  will  file  any  such 
reports  in  shape  for  the  writing  of 
the  100  years  history,  which  will 
doubtless  be  the  next  attempt.  Every- 
thing in  reason  has  been  done  in  the 
way  of  advertisement,  and  public  no- 
tice to  get  as  nearly  correct  as  possi- 
ble. 

How  carefully  all  clerks  of  all  de- 
partments ought  to  be  to  preserve 
every  item  with  its  day,  month,  and 
year,  so  that  it  will  be  of  value  in  fu- 
ture writing.  Where  it  'has  been 
known  only  the  maiden  name  or  tne 
married  name  is  given,  but  many 
mistakes  have  been  made  because  no 
one  knows  the  change. 


THE  OLD  GUARD. 

Our  life  is  nothing  but  a  winter's  day, 
Some  only  break  their  fast  and  so  away; 
Others  stay  to  dinner  and  depart  full-fed; 
The  deepest  age  but  sups  and  goes  to  bed; 
He's  most  in  debt  who  lingers  out  the  day; 
Who  dies  betimes  has  less  and  less  to  pay. 


Every  army  has  its  "Old  Guard" 
and  the  country  seeks  to  show  its  ap- 
preciation for  them  in  various  ways. 
The  Historical  Committee  takes  this 
plan  of  showing  our  appreciation  for 
those  who  remain  from  a  former  gen- 
eration and  who  have  been  longest  in 
the  membership  of  this  church. 

It  is  a  coincidence  that  the  church 
began  with  thirteen  and  at  the  close 
of  three-quarters  of  a  century  there 
are  only  sixteen  who  can  show  a  con- 
tinuous membership  of  from  48  to  55 
years.  These  are  given  in  the  order 
of  their  union  with  the  church  as 
nearly  as  can  be  ascertained:  N.  A. 
Riley,  January,  1858.  Mrs.  Margaret 
(Porter)  Walker,  1861.  Mrs.  H.  M. 
Palmer,  1861.  L.  A.  McLean  and  Mrs. 


Jennie  McLean,  1863.  Mrs.  M.  A.  Car- 
son, 1863.  M.  D.  Busey,  1863.  Mrs. 
Phcebe  Goodspeed,  1863.  Mrs.  Mary 
(Carr)  Silver,  1864.  Mrs.  Cornelia 
Johnson,  1864.  Mrs.  R.  A.  Webber, 
October,  1865.  Mrs.  Anna  Busey, 
1865.  Mrs.  Mary  Benedict,  1865.  Mrs. 
Artemesia  Busey,  1865. 

Since  writing  the  above  list  it  has 
oeen  discovered  that  Mrs.  Mary  Silver 
came  into  the  church  in  1863,  and 
Mrs.  Betty  Thomas,  1865. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  are 
some  who  are  conspicuous  for  their 
long  membership  in  the  kingdom 
though  not  in  this  church  who  justly 
deserve  a  place  in  this  chapter  on  ac- 
count of  their  faithfulness  to  the 
church. 


50 


M.   D.   L.  Sellers. 

It  is  a  common  thing  to  see  M.  D. 
Sellers,  and  Mrs.  M.  D.  Sellers  walking 
with  their  canes  to  almost  every  ser- 
vice. They  are  members  of  classes  in 
our  school,  and  they  are  as  regular  as 
those  who  are  many  years  their  Jun- 
ior. He  has  been  a  church  member 
here  and  elsewhere  fifty  years,  while 
she  has  been  a  member  G3  "  years. 
Uncle  'Jimmie"  Butler,  as  he  is  af- 
fectionately called,  is  quite  regular  in 
his  attendance,  although  the  years  are 
wearing  heavily  upon  him.  His  em- 
ployers at  the  Court  House  have  pen- 
sioned him  as  an  expression  of  their 
high  appreciation  for  him,  and  the  life 
he  has  lived  among  them.  J.  V.  and 
Mrs.  J.  V.  Riggs  are  also  regular  in 
their  attendance  at  Sunday  School 
and  prayer  meeting,  and  church.  They 


Mrs.    Rebecca    Sellers. 

are  enjoying  their  closing  years,  al- 
though afflictions  have  visited  them 
recently.  The  next  in  age  is  too  large 
a  list  to  be  published,  and  they  must 
be  contented  to  be  the  old  guard  of 
the  next  quarter  century  history. 

We  are  really  setting  the  pace  now 
for  the  progress  of  the  next  quarter  of 
a  century.  Changes  are  taking  place 
around  us  and  within  us.  Old  things 
are  giving  way  to  the  new  and  this  is 
as  it  should  be.  In  the  spiritual  world 
similar  things  are  taking  place.  Men 
and  women  are  readjusting  their  faith 
and  reasserting  old  things  that  abide 
and  insisting  on  new  and  untried 
things.  Let  us  not  give  up  that  which 
is  distinctly  declared  in  God's  word, 
but  learn  to  adapt  it  to  the  new  life 
of  luxury  and  self  interest. 


"They  shall  bring  forth   fruit  in  old  age." 


51 


CHAPTER  VI. 
PRESENT  MEMBERSHIP 

"Forsake  not  the  assembling  of  yourselves  together  as  the  manner  of  some  is.' 


A. 

Adams,  Helen,  611  Eureka  St.  (C). 
Adler,  C.  J.,  907  E.  Green. 
Adler,  Mrs.  Anna,  907  E.  Green. 
Adler,  Emily  M.,  907  E.  Green. 
Adler.  Hulda  L.,  907  E.  Green. 
Alberts,  Mrs.  Emma,  105  E.  High. 
Alberts,  Joe,  105  E.  High. 
Alberts,  Wiley,  106  E.  Illinois. 
Allen,  Rolla,  207  E.  Illinois. 
Allison,  Carl,  337  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Ammerman,  Mrs.  Lennie,  801  E.  Main. 
Ammerman,  Charles,  801  E.  Main. 
Ammerman,  Howard,  206  E.  Mam. 
Ammerman,  Mrs.  Howard,  801  E.  Main 
Andrews,  Cortland,  212  W.  Nevada. 
Archdeacon,  Will.,  R.  F.  D.  12  (U). 
Archdeacon,  Dolly,  804  E.  Green. 
Arledge,  Mrs.  Grover  C.,  710  E.  Park. 
Artman,  Callie,  R.F.D.  5  (C). 
Artman,  Josephine,  R.F.D.  5  (C). 
Auton,  William,  304-5  Market. 

B. 

Barnhart,  E.  P.,  209  W.  Calif. 
Barnhart,  Mrs.  Sarah,  209  W.  Calif. 
Baird,  S.  D.,  Bainbridge,  Ind. 
Baird,  t'.rs.  S.  D.,  Bainbridgp    Ind. 
arnhart,  W.  R.,  709  W.  Main. 
Barnhart,  Emma,  709  W.  Main. 
Barnhart,  Elsie,  709  W.  Main. 
Barnhart,  Flossie,  709  W.  Main. 
Basye,  Mrs.  Mary,  80S  E.  Green. 
Basye,  Helen,  803  E.  Green. 
Becker,  Mrs.  Earl,  505  S.  North. 
Bennett,  W.  L.,  402  S.  Vine. 
Bennett,  Mrs.  Phoebe,  402  S.  Vine. 
Bennett,  Mrs.  Lydia,  204  S.  Vine. 
Bennett,  Juanita,  204  S.  Vine. 
Bennett,  Geo.  M.,  209  W.  Green. 
Bennett,  Mrs.  Emma,  209  W.  Green. 
Benedict,  Ruth,  Kenosha,  Wis. 
Beverlin,  Wm.  H.,  704  W.  Elm. 
Beverlin,  Gladys,  704  W.  Univ. 
Beverlin,  Mayme,  704  W.  Univ. 
Birdsell,  Ruth,  208  S.  Market. 
Blaisdell,  Mrs.  Minnie,  506  S.  3rd  (C). 


Blake,  Ethel,  212  S.  Neil  (C). 
Blue,  T.  F.,  310  N.  Race. 
Blue,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  310  N'.  Race. 
Rlue,  Mrs.  Sarah,  406  N.  Race. 
Booker,  A.  J.,  702  E.  Calif. 
Booker,  Sylvia,  702  E.  Calif. 
Booker,  Gail,  702  E.  Calif. 
Borden,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.,  914*6   Calif. 
Boyd,  Bert,  112  S.  Lynn. 
Boyd,  Arch.,  115  N.  Webber. 
Bradford,  Mrs.  Emma,  401  E.  Green. 
Bradford,  Will,  Springfield,  111. 
Bradford,  Earl,  Springfield,  111. 
Braman,  J.  A.,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Brash,  James,  Indiana  Ave. 
Breakfield,  W.    Walter,  Paris,   111. 
Brownfield,  J.  W.,  903  W.  Illinois. 
Brownfield,  Mrs.  Sarah,  903  W.  Illinois. 
Brown,  Howe,  605  S.  Market. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Mattie,  605  S.  Market. 
Burlison,  W.  L.,  1104  S.  3rd   (C). 
Burlison,  Mrs.  W.  L.,  1104  S.  3rd  (C). 
Busey,  Mrs.  Artemesia,  602  W.  Univ. 
Busey,  M.  D.,  201  W.  Green. 
Busey,  Mrs.  Anna,  201  W.  Green. 
Butler,  J.  I.,  506  S.  Urbana. 
Busey,  Allan,  705  N.  Coler. 
Busey,  Mrs.  Iva,  705  N.  Coler. 
Busey,  Frank,  354  Franklin,  Buffalo. 
Busey,  Mrs.   Lillian,   354  Franklin,  C. 
Burke,  Lillie,  R.  F.  D.  8. 
Busey,  Delbert,  R.  F.  D.  5   (C). 
Busey,  Mrs.  Maude,  R.  F.  D.  5  (C). 

C. 

Cady,  Mrs.  Rose,  701  W.  Stoughton. 
Campbell,  Mildred,  Freesoil,  Mich. 
Campbell,  Mrs.  Jessie,  604  Spring.  (C). 
Cannon,  Mrs.  F.  L.,  202  S.  Busey. 
Carpenter,  Lizzie,  105  S,  Vine. 
Carson,  Melissa,  310  W.  High. 
Cassell,  Mrs.  Sarah,  405  S.  Market. 
Chadwick,  Harry,  406  S.  Race. 
Chadwick,  Mrs.  Nettie,  406  S.  Race. 
Chadwick,  Frances,  406  S.  Race. 
Clements,  Charles,  711  W.  Clark. 
Clift,  Mrs.  Emma,  R.  F.  D.  8  (U). 
Coffey,  Joel,  Lafayette  Ind. 


52 


Cole,  Davis,  403  N.  Lake 
Cole,  Mrs.  Davis,  403  N.  Lake. 
Combest,  W.  P.,  812  W.  Church. 
Combest,  Mrs.  W.  P.,  812  W.  Church. 
Comstock,  Mrs.  Bertha,  508  B.  Green. 
Condit,  Esther,  302  W.  High. 
Connour,  Janey,  704  W.  Park. 
Connour,  May,  704  W.  Park. 
Conkwright,  Dewey,  206  W.  Nevada. 
Conoway,  Mrs.  Myrtle,  410  W.  High. 
Conklin,  W.  A.,  508  S.  Market. 
Conklin,  Roscoe,  508  S.  Market. 
Conklin,  Glenn,  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 
Cook,  Mrs.  Cora,  606  E.  High. 
Coppenberger,  Mrs.  Lulu,  505  N.  Coler 
Coppenbarger,  Etta,  Loda,  111. 
Corbin,  Mrs.  Ada,  509  W.  Univ. 
Corbin,  Bonnie,  509  W.  Univ. 
Corray,  H.  M.,  R.  F.  D.  8  (U). 
Corray,  Mrs.  H.  M.,  R.  F.  D.  8  (U). 
Corray,   Mrs.   Angeline,   R.F.D.  8    (U). 
Cottrell,  Mrs.  Flora,  205  W.  Illinois. 
Courtney,  Albert,  407  S.  Webber. 
Courtney,  Mrs.  A.,  407  S.  Webber. 
Courtney,  Lottie,  407  S.  Webber. 
Cox,  Harry,  R.  F.  D.  33,  Dewey,  111. 
Cox,  Mrs.  Opal,  R.  F.  D.  33,  Dewey. 
Cox,  Henry,  R.  F.  D.  8  (U). 
Cox,  Mrs.  Anna,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Creek,  Mrs.  May,  115  W.  Wash. 
Crouch,  Clyde,  R.  F.  D.  10  (U). 
Crouch,  Mrs.  Ida,  R.  F.  D.  10  (U). 
Cunningham,  Mrs.  N.,  608  E.  Calif. 

D. 

Daniels,  Mrs.  Edith,  Butler,  Mo.   8. 
Day,  Mrs.  Anna  E.,  1307  Church. 
Day,  Mrs.  Lettie,  129  N.  Race. 
Deason,  Mrs.  Elva.,  Murphysboro,  111. 
Denton,  John,  Chicago,  111. 
Denton,  Mrs.  Lou,  603  S.  Market. 
Denton,  Marie,  603  S.  Market. 
Desmore,  W.  H.,  206  E.  Green. 
Desmore,  Mrs.  Margaret,  206  E.  Green 
Dexter,  E.  G.,  San  Juan,  P.  R. 
Dextei*,  Mrs.  E.  G.,  San  Juan,  P.  R. 
Dicken,  Mrs.  Fannie,  302  W.  Elm. 
Dickerson,  Esther,  903  W.  Univ. 
Dickerson.  Mrs.  Margaret,  903  W.  Uni. 
Dodson,  Mrs.  Jennie,  R  F.  D.  12. 
Dolph,  Mabel,  806  E.  Hudson. 
Douglas,  George,  604  S.   Market. 
Douglas,  Mrs.  Jennie,  604  S.  Market. 
Douglas,  Roy,  R.  F.  D.  10. 
Doyle,  Mrs.  Nettie,  503  E.  Elm. 
Dunn,  Mrs.  Hazel,  Ralph,  Iowa. 


Dunn,  Raleigh,  Ralph,  Iowa. 
Durni,  Bertha  B.,  1003  W.  Clark. 
Dunn,  Ida  May,  509  W.  Calif. 
Dunn,  Adelaide,  509  W.  Calif. 
Durman,  Kathleen,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 
Dyson,  Chester,  R.  F.  D.  9  (U). 

E. 

Edwards,  Grover  C,  702  S.  Market. 
Edwards,  Mrs.  G.  C.,  702  S.  Market. 
Ellis,  Amelia  D.,  405  W.  Main. 
Ervin,  J.  C.,  Kankakee,  111. 

F. 

Faust,  Otto,  1011  E.  Main. 
Fallon,  Vallie,  613  W.  Stoughton. 
Ferrand,  Olive,  Kankakee,  111. 
Ferrand,  Walter,   Chicago,  111. 
Fleck,  Louis,  903  E.  Green. 
Flexman,   C.   G.,   906   Stoughton. 
Flexman,   Mrs.   C.   G.,   906  Stoughton. 
Fluke,  Melvin,  R.  F.  D.  10. 
Fluke,  Mrs  Ethel,  R.  F.  D.  10. 
Fox,  Mrs.  Delia,  Springfield  R  F  D  5 
Frame,  Walter,  Danville,  111. 
Frame,  Ed.,  207  S.   Poplar. 
Franklin,  Warren.  407  N.  Busey. 
Franklin,  Gladys,  407  N.  Busey. 
Franklin,  George,  723  S.  Market. 
Franklin,  Mrs.  Geo.,  723  S.  Market. 
Franklin,  Laura,  723  S.  Market. 
Freeman,  Mrs.  Alice.  504  W.  Elm. 
Freeman,  Helen,  504  W.  Elm. 
Freeman,  Harry,  Cairo,  111. 
Frisinger,  Del,  Decatur,  111. 
Frisinger,  Mrs.  Del.,  Monticello,  111. 
Frisinger,  Claude,  Graymont,  111. 
Fulton,  Paul,  1204  W.  Hill. 
Fulton,  John,  1204  W.  Hill. 
Fulton,  Ixmise,  1204  W.  Hill. 

G. 

Gay,  Elbert,  R.  F.  D.  8. 
Gerbing,  Agnes,  508  E.  Illinois. 
Gerbing,  Mrs.  Jennie.  508  E.  Illinois. 
Gerbing,  Herman,  508  E.  Illinois. 
Gilmer,  Irvin,  R.  F.  D.  8  (U). 
Gilmer,  George,  800  W.  Park. 
Gleason,  Vallen,  910%  S.  Water. 
Gleason,  Mrs.  Dorothy,  910%  S.  Water. 
Gleason,  Marion,  212  W.  Nevada. 
Gleason,  H.   F.,   306  W.  Washington. 
Gleason,  Mrs.  Edith.  306  W.  Wash. 
Gleason,  Mrs.  Maryland,  212  W.  Nev. 
Gleason,  Katharine,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Good,  Mrs.  Jessie  B.,  705  E.  Cal. 
Goodspeed,  D.  H.,  304  West  Illinois 
Goodspeed,  Mrs.  Phoebe,  304  W.  Ills. 


CORRECTIONS. 


Page  3  Column 

2 

Line  25  read 

1884. 

8 

1 

3 

1868. 

22 

1 

20 

Sep.  7  1889. 

38 

2 

8 

E.  P,  Barnhart,  1908. 

9 

Burke  Webber. 

1 

12 

Amelia  Richards.  1902 

49 

•1 

29 

Mary  Benedict.      1864 

53 

\ 

16 

Hall  J.  3.  905  S.  Busey. 

Hall  Ella  205  W.  Green. 

55 

2 

3 

Marion  Roberts 

71 

2 

last  line  read  1903. 

76 

2 

19 

1912. 

2 

20 

1913. 

90 

2 

7 

Renfro  for  Renfrew. 

Goodspeed,  W.  S.,  205  W.  Univ. 
Goodspeed,  Mrs.  Stella,  205  W.  Univ. 
Goodspeed.  Mrs.  Anna,  410  W.  High. 
Gooduough,  Mrs.  Edith,  305  S.  Coler. 
Gorman,  Mrs.  Minnie,  Arlington,  Colo. 
Gray,  John,  928  W.  Green. 
Grimes,  Ralph,  405  W.  California. 
Grimes,  Mrs.  Caroline,  405  W.  Calif. 
Grant,  Mrs.  Pearl,  Decatur,  111. 
Grubbs,  Zella,  R.  F.  D.  7   (U). 
Guard,  Mrs.  Maud,  San  Antonio,  Tex. 
Gulick,  Mrs.  C.  D.,  1005  W.  Oregon. 
Gulick,  C.  D.,  1005  W.  Oregon. 

H. 

Hacker,  Mrs.  E.,  705  E.  Calif. 
Ham,  Mrs.  Ellen,  211  E.  Illinois. 
Hall,  Mrs.  Sarah,  905  S.  Busey. 
Hacker,  Walter,  705  E.  Calif. 
Hacker,  Mrs.  Mattie,  705  E.  Calif. 
Hamilton,  Roy,  Rodman,  Iowa. 
Handley,  Mary,  Potaskali,  Ohio. 
Harmison,  L.  A.,  105  N.  Goodwin. 
Harmison,  Mrs.  Rose,  105  N.  Goodwin. 
Harmison,  Beatrice,  105   N%  Goodwin. 
Hawley,  O.  J.,  714  W.  Elm.  ' 
Hayes,  Dwight,  211  E.  Main. 
Hayes,  Mrs.  J.  A.,  401  W.  Oregon. 
Hays,  Burt,  904  S.  Race. 
Hayes,  Mrs.  Nellie,  904  S  Race. 
Hedge,  Mrs.  Anna,  1304  W.  Clark. 
Heffley,  Mrs.  Geo.,  Rockford,  111. 

Heller,  R.  W.,  206  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Helm,  Clifford,  406  S.  Market. 
Henderson,  A.  H.,  508  S.  Market. 
Henderson,  Mrs.  A.  H.,  508  S.  Market. 
Henning,  Lillie,  Seymour,  111. 
Henning,  Mrs.  Adam,  Dukesbury. 
Henning,  Adam,  Alberta,  Canada. 
Hissong,  J.  L.,  405  W.  Calif. 
Hissong,  Mrs.  Catherine,  405  W.  Calif. 
Hissong,  Frank,,  405  W.  Cal. 
Hiserodt,  Clyde,  107  Urbana. 
Houchins,  Mrs.  E.  E.,  408  S.  Anderson. 
Howard,  Mrs.  Dora,  1006  W.  Green. 
Howe,   Richard,  804  W.   Springfield. 
Hoffman,  Mrs.  A..  612  E.  Church   (C). 
Hunter,  Lawrence,  R.  F.  D.  10. 
Hunt.  Mrs.  Nettie.  905  S.  Coler. 
Hubbard,  L.  G.,  R.F.D.  10   (U). 
Hubbard,  Mrs.  Helen,  R.F.D.  10  (U). 
Hubbard,  Minnie,  R.F.D.  10   (U). 
Hubbard,  F.   C.,  R.F.D.  10    (U). 
Hubbard,  Mrs.  Martha,  R.F.D.  10  (U). 
Hubbard,  Nellie,  R.F.D.  10   (U). 


Kurd,  Mrs.  Lillie,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Hurd,  Clint,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Hyatt,  Albert,  113  N.  Central. 

I. 

Tkins,  Mrs.  Maude,  206  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Ingalls,  Horace,  209  W.  Oregon, 
innes,  John,  309  W..  High. 

J. 

Jasper,  T.  M.,  341  E  43,  C. 
Job.son,  Mrs.  A.,  Portland,  Oregon. 
Johnson,  R.  B.,  310  W.  Calif. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Cornelia,  310  W.  Calif. 
Johnson,  C.  J.,  410  W.  Calif. 
Johnson,   Mrs.   Eliabeth,   410W.    Calif. 
Johnson,  Howard,  410  W.  Calif. 
Johnson,  Lelian,  410  W.  Calif. 
Johnson,  Arthur,  401  S.  Grove. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Ethel,  401  S.  Grove. 
Johnson,  Wm.,  701  E.  Green. 
Johnson,  Walter,  701  E  Green. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  George,  207  W.  High 
Johnson,  Harry,  608  E.  High. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Hazel,  608  E.  High. 
Johnson,  William,  702  E.  Hi«;h. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Sarah,  702  E.  High. 
Johnson,  Joseph,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Johnson,  Elmer,  106  N.  Lincoln. 
Johnson,   Mrs.  Anna,   106   N.  Lincoln. 
Jones,  Hiram,  109  W.  Illinois. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Mary.  109  W.  Illinois. 
Jones,  Sadie,  109  W.  Illinois. 
Jones,  Frank,  710  S.  Race. 
Jones,  Marie,  710  S.  Race. 
Jones,  Arthur,  710  S.  Race. 
Jones,  Wm.,  710  S.  Race. 
Jones,  Edgar,  710  S.  Race. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Anna,  710  S.  Race. 
Julian,  Mrs.  Mary,  111  W.  Main. 

K. 

Kaucher,  Mrs.  Geraldine,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Kellar,  Mrs.  Bertha,  R.  F.  D.  No.  12. 
Kirby,  Mrs.  Alta,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Knowlton,  E.  M.,  302  W.  High. 
Kirkland,  Rev.  R.  S.,  502  W.  Illinois. 
Kirkland,  Dudley,  502  W.  Illinois. 
Kirkland,  Annirene,  502  W.  Illinois. 
Kirkland,  Mrs.  Eva,  502  W.  Illinois. 
Kirkpatrick,   Mrs.  Ombra,  206  W.   111. 
Klockner,  Flora,  503  W.  Park. 
Kurtz,  Mrs.  Iva,  Brooks,  Ind. 
Kyte,  Orlando,  Wabash  Ave. 

L. 

Lanbam,  Ed.,  309  N.  Race. 
Lanham,  Mrs.  Mary,  309  N.  Race. 
Lanham,  Roy,  309  N.  Race. 


54 


Lanham,  Ralph,  309  N.  Race. 
Laws,  Mrs.  Sylvia,  Rodman,  Iowa. 
Layman,  Mrs.  Gertrude,  308  W.  111. 
Lemen,  Mrs.  Jessie,  Wheatland,  Ind. 
Leonard,  Harold,  Lewiston,  Minn. 
Leonard,  F.  F.,  209%  W.  Illinois. 
Leonard,  Mis.  F.  F.,  209%  W.  Illinois. 
Lemen,  E.  J.,  Wheatland,  Ind. 
Leonard,  Dorinne,  209%., W.  Illinois. 
Leonard,  Russell,  209%  W.  Illinois. 
Leonard,  Hazel,  209%  W.  Illinois. 
Lee,  Mrs.  Mary,  301  E.  Elm. 

Lee,  Edward,  301  E.  Elm. 
Lin,   Thian   K.,   China. 
Louthan,  J.  M.,  1105  W.  Oregon. 

Loveless,  Ruah,  1005  W.  Illinois. 
Lund,  Mrs.  Frank,  Nevada,  Iowa. 

Lund,  Frank,  Nevada,  Iowa. 
M. 

Maguire,  Mrs.  Anna,  808  S.  Mathews. 

Mahn,  Charles,  307  S  Race. 

Mahn,  Mrs.  Clara,  307  S.  Race. 

Mahn,  Ruth,  307  S.  Race. 

Mahn,  George,  307  S.  Race. 

Martin,  Oliver,  1102  W.  Church. 

Martin,  Lloyd,  204  W.  Lake. 

Martin,  Ella,  1102  W.  Church. 

Martin,  Mrs.  J.  L.,  1102  W.  Church. 

Martin,  Mrs.  Effie,  123  Pine,  aDnville. 

Mason,  Dr.  J.  S.,  202  S.  Race. 

Mathingly,  James,  914  E.  Park. 

Mathews,  Louise,  Sadorus,  111. 

Mathews,  Harvey,  Sadorus,  111. 

Mathews,  Shirley,  Wellington,  111. 

Mathews,  Francis,  Sadorus,  111. 

Mathews,  Mrs.  Theodocia.  Texas. 

McLean,  A.  H.,  206  W.  High. 

McLean,  Mrs.  Pearl,  206  W.  High. 

McLain,  Berl,  1409  Park. 

McFarland,  Alice,  603  W.  Clark. 

McFarland,  Mrs.  B.  T.,  603  W.  Clark. 

McCown,  Lovell,  312  W.  Calif. 

McCown,  Mrs.  W.  M.,  312  W.  Calif. 

McClurg,  Vane,  Danville,  111. 

McCown,  J.  T.,  312  W.  Calif. 

McLean,  Mrs.  Jennie.  412  W.  High. 

McLean,  L.  A.,  412  W.  High. 

Merrick,  Wilbur,  109  College. 

Merrick,  Earl,  109  College. 

Merrick,  Mrs.  Bell,  109  College. 

Merrick,  Edith,  109  College. 

Merchant,  Olive,  Kinmundy,  111. 

Merchant,  Gertrude,  Kinmundy,  111. 

Miller,  Joseph  H.,  1002  W.  Oregon. 

Miller,  Jesse,  304  W.  Calif. 


Miller,  Mrs.  Maude,  304  W.  Calif. 
Miller,  Mrs.  Mamie,  Mattoon,  111. 
Miller,  Mrs.  Josie,  Urbana. 
Mitchell,  Mrs.  Anna,  508  W.  Oregon 
Mitchell,  Feme,  508  W.  Oregon. 
Mix,  Martin,  1006  W.  Calif. 
Mollendorf,  Charles,  Evanston,  111. 
Mollendorf,  Mrs.  Jennie,  Evanston,  111. 
Mol!endorf,  Clara,  Evanston,  111. 
Mollendorf,  Harold,  Evanston,  111. 
Moody,  W.  W.,  1006  W.  Univ. 

Mollendorf,  Paul,  Evanston,  111. 
Morris,  Hazel,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 
Morgan,  Mrs.  Augusta,  602  W.  Univ. 
Morgan,  Grace,  602  W.  University. 
Morehouse,   Frances,   Normal,   111. 
Morris,  Mrs.  Pearl,  Peoria,  111. 
Mullin,  Mrs.  Anna,  403  W.  Park. 
Murdock,  Mrs.  C.,  105  College. 
Murdock,  Jesse,  105  College. 

N. 

Neal,  Ethel,  315  Poplar. 
Nelson,  Mrs.  Blanche  R.F.D.  33  Dewey 
Nesmith,  A.  W.,  205  E.  Church  (C). 
Neville,  Mrs.  Nancy,  306  S.  Race. 
Neville,  Claire,  Ft. 'Sam  Houston,  Tex. 
Niblick,  Robert,  702  S.  Race. 
Newell,  Agnes,  111  W.  Clark  (C). 
Niblick,  Bascom,  702  S.  Race. 
Niblick,  Hallie.  702  S.  Race. 
Niblick,  Mrs.  Anna,  702  S.  Race. 
Niblick,  George,  702  S.  Race. 
Nog'e,  Opal,  207  W.  Oregon. 
Nogle,  Miss  Caroline,  207  W.  Oregon. 

O. 
Owens,  A.  W.,  910%  W.  Calif. 

P. 

Parker,  W.  T.,  402  W.  Illinois. 
Parker,  Mrs.  W.  T.,  402  W.  Illinois. 
Parker,  Feland,  402  W.  Illinois. 
Parker,  Leota,  402  W.  Illinois. 
Parker,  Fred,  202%  W.  Illinois. 
Parker,  Lura,  402  W.  Illinois. 
Parker,  Nona  L.,  703  W.  Clark. 
Parker,  Ina,  402  W.  Illinois. 
Palmer,  Mrs.  Lydia,  209  W.  Ch.,  (C). 
Palmer,   Mrs.    Hnnah,    404    E.   High. 
Parris,  Harold,  1304  W.  Hill. 
Percival,  Ruth,  906  W.  Green. 
Pearson,  Mrs.  A.,  810  W.  Springfield. 
Pearson,  Pauline,  810  W.   Springfield. 
Pearson,  Wilbur,  810  W.  Springfield. 
Peters,   Mrs.  Lottie,  Danville,  111. 
Percival,   C.   S.,  R.F.D.   10. 
Percival,   Mrs.   Anna,   906  W.   Green. 


55 


Percival,  Olive,  90G  W.  Green. 
Percival,  Otis,  906  W.  Green. 
Pickerell,  Roy,  R.F.D.  8  (U). 
Pittman,  Charles,  G08  S.  Cot.  Grove. 
Pittman,  Mrs.  Susan,  COS  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Pitman,  Hazel,  608  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Pittman,  Daisy,  608  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Pittman,  Clyde,  608  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Pittman,  Ethel,  608  S.  Cot.  Gr. 
Porter,  Wilbur,  Dakota. 
Powell,  L.  L.,  507  Chalmers  (C). 
Priley,  Mrs.  Nettie  E.,  112y2  White  (C) 
Price,  Mrs.  Eva,  5021  Forrestville  ave 
Price,  Ray,  5021  Forrestville  ave.,  C. 
Prue,  Mrs.  Mary,  405  Railroad. 

R. 

Rahe,  Estella,  Colorado. 
Renfrew,  Carlos,  307  W.  High. 
Renfrew,  Mrs.  Leone,  307  W.  High. 
Renfro,  Estella,  701  W.  Calif. 
Rea,  Mrs.  Minnie,  503  W.  Main. 
Renfrew,  Charles,  604  W.  Main. 
Renfrew,  Mrs.  Francis,  604  W.  Main. 
Renfrew,  Clara,  604  W.  Main. 
Reid,  Mrs.  Marietta,  904  S.  Bv.sey. 
Reid,  Olive  G.,  904  S.  Busey. 
Reimer,  Mrs.  Will,  806  W.  Park. 
Renner,  Mrs.  Louise,  906  W.  Stoughton 
Reed,  Mr.  G.  W.,  R.  R.  57,  Sidney,  111. 
Reed,  Mrs.  G.,  R.  F.  D.  57,  Sidney,  111. 
Rice,  Warren,  Clarksdale,  Miss. 
Rice.   Irl,  Clarksdale,  Miss. 
Richards,  Clarence,  Carlsbad,  N.  M. 
Richter,  H.  A.,  Washburn,  111. 
Richter.   Mrs.  .H.   A.,  Washburn,  111. 
\\i\ey.  Clarence,  604  W.  High. 
Richards,  C.  W.,  305  W.  High. 
Ritchey,   Mrs.  G.   F.,  805  W.   Green. 
Ritchey,  Royal  W.,  805  W.  Green. 
Riley.  N.  A.,  501  W.  Main. 
Richter,  Gladys.  717  S.  Market. 
Richter,  Leonard,  717  S.  Market. 
Richter.  Mrs.  Mattie,  717  S.  Market. 
Richards,  Ralph,  1304  W.  Dublin. 
Richards,  Mrs.  Amelia,  302  W.  Green. 
Riggs,  J.  V.,  Loda,  111. 
Riggs,  Mrs.  Clara.  Loda,  111. 
Kiggs,  Bessie,  607  S.  Race. 
Richards,  Mrs.  C.  H..  Fithian,  111. 
Riley,  Fred,  Chicago,  111. 
Roach,  Samuel,  701  E.  Calif. 
Ronch.  Mrs.  Mattie,  701  E.  Calif. 
Roberts,  Mrs.  Wilber,  407  E.  Calif. 
Roberts,  Wilbur,  407  E.  Calif. 
Roe,  Mrs.  Glenn  H.,  R.  F.  D.  12. 
Roberts.  W.  I.,  108  E.  Calif. 


Roberts,  Nettie  'M.,  108  E.  Calif. 
Roberts,  Mrs.  Fannie,  108  E.  Calif. 
Roberts,  Nettie  M.,  108  E.  Calif. 
Roberts,  Harry,  108  E.  Calif. 
Rogers,  Mrs.  Luella,  Brocton,  111. 
Roberts,  Nettie,  508  W.  Oregon. 
Roney,  Grace,  315  W.  Univ. 
Roney,  Flora,  R.  F.  D.  12. 
Rootes,  Ward,  706  E.  Walnut. 
Ross,  John,  203  E.  Illinois. 
Ross,  Mrs.  Sadie,  203  E.  Illinois. 
Ross,  Eva,  203  E.  Illinois. 
Ross,  Charles,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 
Ross,  Will,  812  W.  Healy  (C). 
Roughton,  Harold,  401  S.  Grove. 
Rowland,  S.  A.,  905  S.  Sixth  (C). 

S. 

Saltzgarver,  Mrs.  Arthur.  Gibson,  111. 
Saniels,  T.  W.,  603  W.  Green. 
Schultz,  Mrs.  Nettie,  303V2  E.  Hill  (C) 
Scroggins,  Mrs.  D.  L.,  707  W.  Wash. 
Scroggins,  D.  L.,  707  W.  Wash. 
Schaudt,  Mrs.  Ethel,  1003  W.  Univ. 
Scroggins,  June,  707  W.  Wash. 
Scroggins,  Frank,  707  W.  Wash. 
Schiff,  George,  R.  F.  D.  8. 
Schmitt,  Leonard,  703  W.  Univ. 
Schilling,  Ralph,  R.  F.  D.  12. 
Schilling.  Flossie,  R.  F.  D.  12. 
Scruby,  A.  T.,  603  W.  Green. 
Scruby,  Mrs.  A.  T.,  603  W.  Green. 
Scott,  Anna,  R.  F.  No.  9. 
Schiff,  Mrs.  George,  R.  F.  D.  8, 
Sellars,  M.  D.  L.,  410  W.  Green. 
Sellars,  Mrs.  Rebecca,  410  W.  Green. 
Shen,  Wen  Yu,  1012  W.  Oregon. 
Shaffer,  Edna!  112  N.  Central. 
Shaffer,  Willard,  112  N.  Central. 
Shaffer,  Bernice,  112  N.  Central. 
Shaffer,  Gladys,  407  W.  Calif. 
Shaffer,  Glenn,  407  W.  Calif. 
Shaffer,  Beulah,  407  W.  Calif. 
Shaffer,  H.  Y.,  407  W.  Calif. 
Shaffer,  Mrs.  H.  Y..  407  W.  Calif. 
Shaffer,  Florence.  112  N.  Central. 
Sharp,  Mrs.  Elsie,  1010  W.  Green. 
Sharp,  Ethel,  1010  W.  Green. 
Sharp.  Bertha,  1010  W.  Green. 
Shaffer,  Mrs.,  112  N.  Central. 
Sheffer,  Mrs.  James,  103^  W.  Green. 
Shelby,  Violet,  Gravel  Siding   (C>. 
Shewart,  W.  A.,  90iy2  W.  Green. 
Shepherd,  Elmer,  208  Nevada. 
Shott,  G.  M.,  205  W.  High. 
Shott.  Cora  E.,  205  W.  High. 


56 


Shott,  Elsie  J.,  205  W.  High. 
Shott,  Ruth  E.,  205  W.  High. 
Siders,  Mrs.  Anna,  Fairlands,  111. 
Silver,  Mrs.  Mary,  TOG  S.  Busey. 
Siverling,  Gladys,  Cam.  Springs,  Pa. 
Siverling,  Mrs.  M.,  'Cambridge  Spg.  Pa 
Sides,  Harold  M.,  R.  F.  D.  10. 
Slawson,  Mrs.  Josie,  505  E.  Green  (C). 
Slawson,  W.  H.,  505  E.  Green  (C). 
Slack,  J.  K.,  408  W.  Green. 
Slater,  Esther,  704  S.  Market. 
Slater,  Mrs.  Mary,  704  S.  Market 
Smith,  Howard.  Geneseo,  111. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Edna,  Geneseo,  111. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Minnie,  203  E.  High. 
Smith,  Verne,  203  E.  High. 
Smith,  Edward,  508  S.  Urbana. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Mary,  508  S.  Urbana. 
Smith,  David,  R.F.D.  12  (U). 
Smith,  Mrs.  Belle,  R.F.D.  12,  (U). 
Smith,  Thamer,  108  E.  Oregon. 
Smith,  Roy,  108  E.  Oregon. 
Smith,  Etta,  403  S.  Anderson. 
Smith,  Mrs.  David,  403  S.  Anderson. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Flora,  108  E.  Oregon. 
Snow,  T.  W.,  611  W.  Illinois. 
Snow,  Mrs.  May,  611  W.  Illinois. 
Snyder,  Maud,  402  W.  Univ. 
Snyder,  Ralph,  402  W.  Univ. 
Snyder,  Frank,  402  W.  Univ. 
Snyder,  F.  M.,  601  W.  High. 
Snyder,  Mrs.  Clara,  G01  W.  High. 
Somers,  Mrs.  Ed.,  R.F.D.  8. 
Somers,  Roy,  R.  F.  D.  No.  9. 
Sponsel,  Olive,  Mrs.,  Mandan,  N.  D. 
Sponsel,  Mrs.  Olive  B.,  Laurel,  Mont. 
Spurgin,  Wm.,  910  W.  Green. 
Stallings   W.   H.,   Hamilton,   N.   Y. 
Stamp,  George,  113  Franklin. 
Stamp,  Juanita,  113  Franklin. 
Stark,  J.  E.,  New  York. 
Stark,  Mrs.  Mattie,  Paris,  111. 
Stevens,  R.  H.,  Deland,  Fla. 
Stevenson,  Ethel,  305  W.  Illinois. 
Stinespring,  H.  P.,  R.F.D.  9  (U). 
Stipes,  Mrs.  E.,  R.F.D. 
Stinespring,  Mrs.  Leota,  R.F.D.  9  (U). 
Strickland,  Mrs.  Ida,  207  W.  Oregon. 
Strickland,  Mrs.  Stella,  508  W.  Ore. 
Strickland,  Willie,  207  W.  Oregon. 
Strickland,  Myrtle,  207  W.  Oregon. 
Strong,  Mrs.  S.  A.,  507  E.  Green. 
Surbaugh,  Wm.,  Bloomington,  Ind. 
Strong,  Earl,  507  E.  Green. 
Sutton,  Mrs.  Ella,  108  W.  Green. 


T. 

Tarpenning,  Mrs.,  109  E.  Hill  (C). 
Tarpenning,  C.  A.,  bOG  E.  Clark  (C). 
Terry,  Mrs.  Clara,  408  S.  Anderson. 
Thompson,  Chas.   H.,  1203  W.  Spring 
Thomas,  Mrs.  Betty,  20G  W.  Green. 
Thorpe,  J.  C.,  407  E.  Main. 
Thomas,  Abner  R.,  402  W.  Elm. 
Thomas,  Polly  E.,  402  W.  Elm. 
Thomas,    Handley,   402   W.   Elm. 
Thorpe,  Mrs.  Fanny,  501  E.  Main. 
Thompson,  Ruth,  R.  F.  D.  9  (U). 
Thompson,  Mrs.  Lulu,  Ogden,  111. 
Tierney,  Mrs.  Sarah,  511  White  (C). 
.Tillotson,  I.  F.,  704  W.  Park. 
Tillotson,  Mrs.  I.  F.,  704  W.  Park. 
Tipton,  Evilo,  R.F.  D.  8   (U). 
Toy,  Addie,  705  Stoughton. 
Toy,  Carrie,  705  Stoughton. 
Toy,  Fred,  5519  Minerva,  Ch. 
Towersey,  James,  Thomasboro,  111. 
Towersey,   Mrs.   Sarah,   Thomasboro. 
Tufts,  C.  A.,  107  W.  Hill  (C). 
Tufts,  Mrs.  Roxana,  107  W.  Hill   (C). 
1-ufts,  Mrs.  L.  O.,  107  W.  Hill    (C). 

V. 

Van  Deventer,  Lola,  1305  W.  Stoughton 
Vanbuskirk,  Roy,  1002  W.  Oregon. 
Van  Doren,  Mrs.  C.  L.,  712  W.  Oregon. 
Van  Doren,  Mark,  712  W.  Oregon. 
Van  Doren,  Paul,  712  W.  Oregon. 
Van  Doren,  Frank,  712  W.  Oregon. 
Van  Doren,  Guy,  809  W.  Nevada. 
Villers,  rMs.  M.  E.,  301  W  Oregon. 
Von   Holter,   Mrs.   De   Etta,   Mahomet 
Von  Koten,  Mrs.  Ida,  108  E.  Illinois. 
Vaughn,  Herstal,  Denver,  Colo. 
Vaughn,  John,  Denver,  Colo. 

W. 

Wagner,  W.  T.,  107  N.  Webber. 
Walker,  Mrs.  Margaret.  308  W.  High. 
Walti,  Mrs.  Josie,  704  E.  Green. 
Walti,  Louis,  704  E.  Green. 
Walti,  Nora,  704  E.  Green. 
Wardall,  F.  M.,  1011  W.  Illinois. 
Wardall,  Mrs.  Myra,  1011  W.  Illinois. 
Wardall,  Edna,  1011  W.  Illinois. 
Wascher,  Mrs.  Laura,  303  S.  Vine. 
Webber,  Frank,  COS  E.  Main. 
Webber,  Laura,  G05  E.  Main. 
Webber,  Mrs.  Grace.  605  E.  Main. 
Welch,  Mrs.  Grace,  309  W.  High. 
Webber,  T.  Burke.  105  W.  Illinois. 
Webber,  Mrs.  Jessie,  105  W.  Illinois. 
Webber,  Robert,  106  W.  Illinois. 


57 


Webber,  Mrs.  Mary,  401  S.  Market. 
Webber,  Elizabeth,  401  S.  Market. 
Webber,  Anna,  401  S.  Market. 
Webber,  Geo.  B.,  510  B.  White. 
Webber,  Pearl,  709  W.  Green. 
Webber,  Georgia,  510  E.  White. 
Weeks,  Harry,  1123  E.  43d,  Chicago. 
White,  Perry.  404  E.  Elm. 
White,  Mrs.  Mary,  404  E.  Elm. 
White,  Harry,  Thomasboro,  111. 
White,   Mrs.   Harry,   Thomasboro,   111. 
Wheaton,  Lillie,  112  W.  Curtis  (C). 
Whitlach,  Mrs.  Bertha,  404  E.  Green. 
Whitlach,  Irene,  404  S.  Vine. 
Williams,  John,  207  W.  Ind. 
Williams,  Mrs.  May,  207  W.  Ind. 
Williford,  Lewis,  108  N.  Romine. 
Willlford,  Allen,  108   N.   Romine 
Winchester,   Bessie,  R.F.D.   12    (U). 
Winchester,  Mrs.  S.  E.,  610  W.  Calif. 
Winchester,  Benjamin,  610  W.  Calif. 
Winchester,  S.  E.,  610  W.  Calif. 


Wyninger,  Mrs.  H.  T.,  305  E.  Oregon. 
Winchester,  Mrs.  E.  A.,  R.F.D.  12  (U). 
Williams,  Jennie,  305  S.  Grove. 
Wilcox,  A.  I.,  901  W.  Illinois. 
Wilcox,  Mrs.  Ruby,  901  W.  Illinois. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Anna,  901  S.  Busey. 
Williams,  Mrs.   Grace,  Mattoon,  111. 
Winsor,  Mrs.  Rosa,  Farmer  City,  111. 
Winchester,  E.  A.,  R.F.D.  12  (U). 
Wright,  Mrs.  Anna,  107  N.  Webber. 
Williams,  Edith,  1002  Daniel  St. 
Williams,   Charles,   1002   Daniel   St. 
Wooden,  Eula  N.,  Orchard  St. 
Woolman,  Collet,  Shreveport,  La. 
Woodin,  Mrs.  John.  Dundee,  Minn. 
Wright,  Jewell,  107  N.  Webber. 
Wright,  Ruth,  107  N.  Webber. 

Y. 

Yates,  James,  704  E.  Calif. 
Yount,  Fred,  508  W.  Oregon. 
Yount,  Mrs.  Myrtle,  508  W.  Oregon. 


CHURCH     MEMBERSHIP. 

Because  of  the  different  modes  of 
securing  membership  in  the  diverse 
denominations  of  our  times  and  the 
easy  method  of  securing  union,  real 
membership  is  not  regarded  as  high- 
ly as  it  ought  to  be.  The  church  is 
the  representative  of  Christ,  and  is 
designated  as  the  "body  of  Christ." 
Each  member  ought  to  understand 
that  as  a  part  of  the  body,  he  weak- 
ens or  strengthens  the  body.  If  some 
of  the  cells  of  the  lungs  fill  up,  and 
do  not  perform  their  natural  functions 
it  throws  more  of  the  work  of  breath- 
ing upon  the  cells  that  are  active.  If 
too  many  cells  become  atrophied,  and 
as  a  consequence  too  much  is  thrown 
on  the  healthy  cells,  they  will  some 
day  break  down  with  overwork,  and 
lose  their  power  of  giving  vitality  to 
the  body.  If  you  do  not  pay  as  much 
as  you  ought  some  one  else  will  have 
need  to  pay  more  than  he  ought.  This 
church  is  carrying  a  great  number  of 
nominal  members  who  do  not  give  be- 
cause they  say  they  cannot.  They  do 


not  attend,  and  as  a  consequence  do 
not  get  the  inspiration  of  being  pres- 
ent when  others  Interested  in  kindred 
things,  are  studying,  or  working,  and 
as  a  natural  consequence  they  lose 
interest.  Why  not  wake  up,  and  take 
hold  and  learn  to  enjoy  the  work,  and 
worship. 


BAPTIST   PROPORTION. 

"According  to  the  American  Bap- 
tist Yearbook,  in  six  states — Alabama, 
Georgia,  Mississippi,  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina  and  Virginia — one  out 
of  every  five  of  the  population  is  a 
Baptist;  in  Kentucky,  one  out  of  every 
ten  is  a  Baptist;  in  Arkansas  and 
Texas,  one  out  of  every  eight;  in  Ten- 
nessee, one  out  of  nine.  In  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  Missouri,  and 
Louisiana,  the  proportion  is  one  to 
eleven.  Then  the  ratio  jumps  to  one 
out  of  twentyone  in  Oklahoma;  twen- 
ty-eight in  West  Virginia,  and  thirty- 
one  in  Kansas.  In  the  United  States 
the  average  is  one  to  seventeen. 


58 

CHAPTER  IX. 
MEETING  HOUSES—  DEDICATIONS—  PARSONAGES 

"The  groves'  were  God's   first   temples." 
"Who  am  I  then  that  I  should  build  an  house,  save  only  to  burn  sacrifice  in." 


In  the  seventy-five  years  of  .the  his- 
tory of  the  Urbana  Baptist  Church  it 
has  had  but  three  meeting  houses,  if 
indeed  we  may  consider  the  little  log 
school  house  at  Brumley's  as  its  first 
meeting  place. 

The  Brumley  School  House,  located 
about  a  mile  and  one-half  east  of  Ur- 
bana was  the  first  place  that  shelter- 
ed these  early  worshippers,  with  per- 
haps an  occasional  appointment  in  the 
Old  Court  House,  which  was  also  a  log 
house. 

From  1838  to  1850  these  meetings 
were  thus  held  from  place  to  place 
with  no  certain  abiding  place.  The 
Brumley  school  house  was  known  for 
many  years  as  the  place  where  Mr.  A. 
Bruer,  the  schoolmaster,  smoked  the 
scholars  out  at  Christmas  time.  In 


Old  Church   Erected  1856 


this  house  many  of  the  early  settlers 
received  all  their  education.  In  No- 
vember, 1850;  the  church  appointed 
John  White,  William  Gill,  U.  O.  Brum- 
ley, Col.  M.  W.  Busey,  and  James  S. 
Busey  as  a  building  committee.  The 
committee  discharged  its  duties  and 
the  house  was  erected  and  paid  for  in 
185G,  The  following  quotations  from 
the  Urbana  Union  edited  by  J.  O. 
Cunningham,  will  give  some  idea  of 
the  times  and  perhaps  give  the  date 
of  the  first  organization  of  women 
for  church  work.  "The  Ladies  of  Ur- 
bana desirous  of  aiding  in  the  pur- 
chas  of  a  bell  to'  be  placed  upon  the 
Baptist  church  now  in  process  of  con- 
struction in  this  place,  are  invited  to 
meet' at  the  court  house  next  Tuesday 
at  2  p.  m.,  for  the  purpose  of  forming 
a  society  with  the  above  purpose  in 
view."  April  5,  1855. 

"The  Ladies  of  the  Urbana  Sewing 
Society  held  in  the  courC'liouse  yard, 
Friday' '  afternoon;  September  7th,  a 
festival  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
money  to  buy  a  bell  for  the  new  Bap- 
tist church."  Sept.  14th,  1855. 
'  "The  bell  for  the  new  Bdptist  church 
has  arrived,  and  will  soon  send  forth 
its  mellow  peals  to  •  vibrate  over  the 
prairies,  as  often  reminding  us  of  the 
persevering  and  noble  hearted  efforts 
of  the  ladies  of  Urbana,  through 
whose  efforts  alone  the  purchase  has 
been  made.  The  bell  is  one  of  beau- 
tiful tone,  and  will  tend  much  to  en- 
liven the  place,  especially  on  Sabbath 
mornings,  when  we  shall  henceforth 
be  greeted  by  the  "church  going  bell." 
Sept.  27th,  1855.  January  3rd,  185C, 
"Last  Sabbath  the  Baptist  church  in 
this  place  was  dedicated — by  Rev.  Mr. 


59 


Thomas  of  Bloomington.  His  versa- 
tility of  talent  was  made  use  of  in  this 
instance.  A  debt  of  $1,134.81  for  ma- 
terial and  work  on  the  church  remain- 
ed unpaid,  with  no  perceptible  means 
of  paying  it.  The  whole  amount, 
however,  was  assumed  by  individuals, 
placing  the  church  out  of  debt  at 
once.  Much  credit  is  due  Mr.  Thomas, 
who  will  long  be  remembered  by  our 
people." 


a  time  has  the  cry,  "what  shall  I  do 
to  be  saved,"  been  lifted  up  from  pen- 
itent hearts.  Many  a  time  has  the 
fiery  and  dogmatic  teachings  of  the 
scriptures  been  rung  out  over  the 
heads  of  the  waiting  crowds,  "believe 
on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  thou 
shalt  be  saved." 

Repairs  and  some  changes  have 
somewhat  changed  the  original  ap- 
pearance of  the  house,  but  have  added 


Interior  of  Old  Church 


For  forty -one  years  that  building 
stood  and  housed  the  multitudes  who 
have  worshiped  there  during  the  busy 
days  of  western  settlement,  and  war 
readjustment.  By  glancing  at  the  long 
list  of  members  who  for  longer  or 
shorter  periods  have  passed  through 
the  membership  of  the  church  that  has 
been  worshipping  in  this  place  you 
will  see  what  an  influence  centered 
in  that  old  historic  building.  Many 


to  its  efficiency  and  usefulness,  with- 
out detracting  from  its  simplicity. 
During  the  ministry  of  Elder  W.  H. 
Steadman  the  congregations  grew  too 
large  for  the  seating  capacity  of  the 
house,  and  in  1876  a  Vestry  with  two 
rooms  was  added  to  the  back  of  the 
meeting  house  costing  $850,  which 
added  greatly  to  the  convenience  of 
both  church  and  Sunday  school.  Dur- 
ing the  ministry  of  Elder  Shott  a 


60 


Baptistry  was  also  added  to  the  plat- 
form of  the  building.  At  some  period 
in  the  history  of  the  building  two 
doors  of  entrance  were  made  where 


was  probably  the  greatest  personal 
triumph  in  which  the  church  ever  en- 
gaged. On  February  21st,  1895,  Rev. 
J.  F.  Mills  preached  a  memorable  ser- 


SECOND   BUILDING. 

one  had  been  in  the,  original  entry. 
These  features  have  been  perpetuated 
in  pictures  in  the  glass  windows  of 
the  present  house  as  seen  on  the 
north  side  central  window  and  the 
south  side  central  window. 

With  unexpected  suddenness  the  rec- 
ords announce  in  terse  phrase  what 


First    Baptist    Church,    Erected     1896. 

mon  from  the  words,  "lengthen  thy 
cords  and  strengthen  thy  stakes."  It 
was  this  passionate  sermon  that  ex- 
cited the  people  to  a  splendid  frenzy 
of  work  and  sacrifice.  The  member- 
ship of  400  had  now  quite  outgrown 
the  old  meeting  house  of  1855.  The 
officers  met  on  Monday  night,  and 


61 


Stanford   Hall 

perfected  plans  which  were  presented 
to  the  church  on  Wednesday  night, 
and  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills  was  appointed  to 
undertake  the  raising  of  the  neces- 
sary funds  for  the  new  building.  He 
was  also  empowered  to  call  in  any 
help  he  might  see  fit. 

L.  G.  Hubbard  set  the  pace  and 
gave  $1,000.00,  which  led  the  following 
to  subscribe  a  like  sum:  M.  D.  Busey, 
Patrick  Richards,  E.  M.  Knowlton,  and 
Geo.  M.  Bennett.  The  following  sub- 
scribed $500.00  each:  R.  A.  Weber,  J. 
M.  Lewis,  George  A.  Walker,  J.  S. 
Hall,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith  and  family, 
N.  A.  Riley,  and  Querin  Schiff  and 
family.  Other  numerous  subscrip- 
tions from  two  hundred  dollars  down 
were  made.  In  one  month  from  the 
start  the  Committee  reported  $5,000. 
J.  S.  Hall  was  appointed  chairman  of 
the  Building  Committee  with  M.  D. 
Busey,  L.  G.  Hubbard,  R.  A.  Webber, 
E.  M.  Knowlton,  J.  M.  Lewis  and  L. 
A.  McLean.  Stanford  Hall  of  the 
University  Class  of  1895  was  elected 
as  Architect  and  later  as  Superintend- 
ent of  the  building.  The  dimensions 


of  the  building  are  114x72,  with  a  bell 
tower  98  feet  high.  It  is  of  German- 
Romanesque  architecture  in  brick  and 
gray  stone.  Memorial  windows  of 
tasty  designs  make  permanent  the 
names  of  many  beloved  members.  It 
was  found  necessary  to  raise  an  ad- 
ditional $2,600.00  and  to  leave  off 
some  ornaments  in  order  to  make  the 
subscription  cover  the  bids.  Mr.  S.  H. 
Busey  and  wife,  General  Busey,  and 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Kirkpatrick  contributed 
this  amount,  and  a  tablet  to  their 
mother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bush  Busey, 
perpetuates  their  generosity  as  well  as 
their  mother's  love  for  children. 


MRS.   M.  W.   BUSEY. 

Born  in  1800.  Maiden  name,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Bush  of  Washington  Co.,  In- 
diana. Became  a  resident  here  in  1833. 

Many  of  those  who  had  given  large- 
ly at  the  first  stages  increased  their 
gifts  from  $100.00  down.  Special  men- 
tion should  be  made  of  J.  Stanford 
Hall,  upon  whom  the  great  responsi- 
bility of  seeing  his  plans  carried  out 


62 


to  execution  rested.  The  construction 
of  the  roof  to  support  the  great  weight 
is  a  marvel  of  architectural  and  me- 
chanical skill.  L.  M.  Moore  and  Son, 
the  contractors,  are  lavish  in  their 
praise  of  the  perfection  of  detail  in 
the  Architect's  plans.  The  Building 
Committee  had  their  share  of  well- 
earned  praise  during  the  various 
stages  of  the  work,  and  their  faces 
are  perpetuated  in  a  cut  in  this  vol- 
ume. To  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills  more 
than  to  any  other  single  person,  Is 
due  the  honor,  and  praise  for  the 
great  building.  His  pastorate  was  not 
only  successful,  for  three  years  previ- 
ous to  the  .building  enterprise,  but  he 
broke  the  record  of  men  who  build 
churches,  and  stayed  two  years  after 
his  heroic  task  had  been  finished,  to 
enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  incessant  toil. 


Deacon  S.  S.  Hall. 

Samuel  Stillman  Hall  was  born  at 
Sumner,  Maine,  November  30th,  1808. 
He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Zenas  Hall,  a 
Baptist  pioneer  preacher  in  Maine. 

January  1st,  1833,  he  was  married  to 
Lydia  Ring,  who  died  a  year  later.  In 
1835  he  married  Elizabeth  Ring,  who 
bore  him  eight  sons,  and  proved  a  good 
and  faithful  wife  and  mother,  till  her 
death,  which  came  in  1852.  In  1857 
he  moved  from  Maine  to  Illinois,  on 
a  farm  near  Tonica.  Here  lie  hved 
for  22  years,  honored  and  respected 
by  all.  Here  he  met  with  his  sf*cond 
great  sorrow,  i.ae  death  of  his  wife  in 
September,,  1852.  She  left  him  with 
a  large  family,  some  of  which  were 
quite  small.  In  1853  he  married  to 
Harriet  Mitchell,  whc  bore  him  one 
daughter,  Miss  Ella  E.  Hall,  who  is  a 
member  of  our  church  at  this  writing, 
and  furnishes  the  committee  with  the 
data  of  this  biography.  In  1869  he 


moved  to  Urbana,  where  he  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life,  blameless,  comforting, 
and  helpful.  He  gave  five  sons  to  the 
civil  war,  and  one  sleeps  in  the  cem- 
etery at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  His  third 
wife  died  August  14th,  1887,  leaving 
his  daughter  to  comfort  and  care  for 
him  in  his  declining  years.  He  was 
baptized  at  Parkham,  Maine,  January 
1st,  1832,  and  walked  in  "newness  of 
life"  for  more  than  sixty-three  years. 
He  was  Deacon,  and  Sunday  School 
Superintendent  for  a  number  of  years 
at  Tonica.  He  was  Deacon  of  the  Ur- 
bana church  for  twenty-five  years,  re- 
ceiving ordination  with  a  number  of 
others  on  the  last  night  of  the  first 
pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  June 
9th,  1884.  His  death  came  May  19th, 
1895,  at  the  advanced  age  of  87  years. 
There  are  many  still  in  the  church 
to  "rise  up  and  call  him  blessed." 


63 


BUILDING  COMMITTEE 

Reading  from   left  to   right:    M.  D.  Busey,  E.  M.  Knowlton,  N.  A.  Riley, 
R.  A.  Webber,  J.  M.  Lewis,  L.  A.  McLean,  L.  G.  Hubbard,  E.  S.  Hall. 


64 


"All  the  people  dedicated 
— o 
Dedication  of  the  First  Building. 


From  the  files  of  the  Urbana  Union 
of  January  3,  1856,  the  following  no- 
tice is  taken:  "Last  Sabbath  the  Bap- 
tist Church  in  this  place  was  dedicat- 
ed by  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  of  Blooming- 
ton.  The  services  were  made  very  in- 
teresting throughout  by  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Thomas,  who  is  a  gentleman, 
eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  and  affable 
among  the  people.  His  versality  of 
talent  was  made  exceedingly  useful  in 
this  instance.  A  debt  of  $1,154.81  for 
material,  and  work  on  the  church,  re- 
mained unpaid,  with  no  perceptible 
means  of  paying  it.  The  whole  amount 
was  assumed  by  ^individuals  placing 
the  church  out  of  debt  at  once.  Much 
credit  is  due  the  exertions  of  .  Mr. 
Thomas,  who  will  long  be  remember- 
ed by  our  people."  This  church  build- 
ing was  the  first  of  any  pretensions  in 
the  county.  It  was  the  only  church 
building  with  a  belfry  for  many  years. 
Many  scenes  of  blessed  spiritual  reap- 
ing have  been  seen  within  those  old 
historic  walls.  Many  a  hundred  souls 
were  born  within  those  walls,  and 
many  an  anthem  of  high  praise  to  God 
has  teen  echoed  back  by  them.  The 
first  baptistry  indoors  in  the  history 
of  the  church  was  built  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  by  Mr. 
Martin  Kaucher,  who  was  the  first,  or 
nearly  the  first  to  enter  its  waters. 


Dedication  of  the  Second  Building. 
May  29th,  1896.  By  actual  count, 
1,350  people  crowded  into  the  new 
meeting  house  to  participate  in  the 
dedication  exercises.  Rev.  Myron  W. 
Haynes,  D.D.,  of  Chicago,  preached  the 
dedication  sermon  from  Luke  5:11: 
"And  when  they  had  brought  their 
ships  to  land  they  forsook  all,  and 


the  house  of  the  Lord." 

followed  him." 

Among  the  duties  of  the  consecrated 
life  he  emphasized  the  privilege  of 
giving,  and  then  asked  for  $3,000  to 
pay  the  balance  of  debt  on  the  church. 
In  a  few  minutes  $3,237  was  pledged. 
Deacon  Hall  spoke  of  the  harmony 
that  had  prevailed  during  the  erection 
of  the  building.  N.  A.  Riley,  treasur- 
er, reported  that  a  total  of  $23,784.94 
had  been  raised  leaving  $3,000  to  com- 
plete the  payment  of  all  bills.  Of  this 
amount  Mrs.  J.  C.  Thomas  of  the 
Ladies'  Extension  Society  reported 
that  the  Society  had  paid  $888  on  the 
building  fund.  In  the.  afternoon  at  3 
o'clock  the  auditorium  was  crowded  to 
the  limit,  1,500  people  being  in  at- 
tendance. 

Ministers  of  the  various  denomina- 
tions of  the  Twin  Cities  were  on  the 
platform,  and  some  of  them  made  rep- 
resentative speeches  congratulating 
the  church  upon  its  splendid  achieve- 
ment. President  Draper  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois  was  one  of  the 
speakers,  and  made  an  excellent  ad- 
dress, portions  of  which  only  can  be 
given  here.  "You  have  passed  a  gra- 
cious compliment  upon  the  University 
in  giving  it  a  voice  on  this  auspicious 
occason.  The  toleration  of  creed,  not 
the  absence  of  it,  is  an  element  in  the 
state,  and  in  the  University.  It  is 
appropriate  that  the  state  in  which 
toleration  has  reached  its  fullest 
fruitage  should  offer  amends  to  the 
denomination  which  has  suffered  most 
from  religious  intolerance,  and  perse- 
cution. It  has  been  true  of  the  Bap- 
tist denomination  that  the  blood  of 
the  martyrs  has  been  the  seed  of  the 
church.  The  state  congratulates  this 
church  today.  The  University  is  very 
dependent  upon  the  virility,  and 
strength  of  the  religious  life  of  the 
Twin  Cities.  We  have  900  young  men, 


65 


and  women  brought  here  each  year, 
and  it  is  a  great  charge.  The  Univer- 
sity is  proud  today  that  the  planning 
of  this  beautiful  structure  was  done 
by  one  of  its  worthy  sons,  Stanford 
Hall,  architect.  Many  added  children 
gather  around  its  knee;  may  its  in- 
fluence count,  forward,  not  backward, 
up  not  down,  out,  not  in,  and  all  lend 
a  hand." 

Dr.  M.  W.  Haynes  then  engineered 
another  collection  and  subscription 
covering  all  the  needs  of  the  new  edi- 
fice, making  the  total  subscriptions 
for  the  day  from  over  200  subscrib- 
ers, $4,235.  At  night  another  full 
house  was  gathered  in  the  dim  light  of 
the  side  lights  of  the  building,  and 
waited  with  great  expectancy  to  see 
the  electric  lights  turned  on  the  great 
central  chandelier.  Rev.  W.  H.  Stead- 
man,  D.D.,  offered  the  dedicatory 
prayer,  and  many  will  never  forget  the 
tender  pleading  of  that  prayer,  for 
God's  blessing  to  rest  upon  the  new 
building  as  a  means  towards  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  church,  and  its  work. 
Dr.  Haynes  then  preached  another  im- 
pressive sermon.  The  events  of  this 
great  day  in  the  history  of  the  church 
mark  the  beginning  of  a  new  condition 
of  things. 

With  such  splendid  facilities  for  the 
propagation  of  the  gospel  to  multi- 
tudes, the  responsibility  of  the  church 
to  so  live,  and  teach  as  to  draw  the 
needy  people  under  the  influence  of 
the  teaching  of  this  great  pulpit  is 
very  evident.  Recording  angels  may 
well  hover  over  this  scene  of  many 
tears  and  triumphs,  to  carry  back  the 
tidings  of  repenting  souls. 


D.  F.  Carnahan  the  church  took  its 
initial  step  in  this  necessary  enter- 
prise. May  4th,  1873,  a  committee  of 


PARSONAGES. 

Half  the  battle  of  long  settlement 
in  the  pastorate  is  won  when  the 
church  provides  a  comfortable  home 
and  keeps  it  in  good  repair  for  the 
pastor.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 


Old  Parsonage  Erected  1873 
21   persons   was   appointed     to     take 
steps  toward  securing  a  parsonage. 

The  next  record  concerning  the 
parsonage  is  December  10th,  1873. 
"The  Trustees  were  instructed  to  bor- 
row $450  for  the  purpose  of  paying 
the  debt  on  the  parsonage  and  to 
mortgage  the  church  property  to  se- 
cure the  same.  April  3rd,  1875,  shows 
the  next  record,  the  committee  on 
ways  and  means  of  meeting  the  dues 
to  the  loan  association  and  discharg- 
ing the  parsonage  debt  asked  for 
further  time.  June  5th,  1875,  the 
church  agreed  to  pay  in  60  days  from 
date  without  interest,  $25  in  full  of  all 
demands  for  "rodding"  the  parsonage. 
This  small  debt  caused  no  end  of 
needless  confusion,  and  was  a  wet 
blanket  to  many  a  subsequent  enter- 
prise in  the  days  while  the  memory 
of  it  lasted.  The  parsonage  was  paid 
for,  costing  about  $2,500. 

March  22nd,  1905,  the  trustees  re- 
ported a  gift  froni  Sister  Artemesia 
Busey  of  from  $3,500  to  $4,000  as  a 
parsonage  fund  on  condition  that  the 
church  would  furnish  a  suitable  lot. 
This  generous  gift  was  accepted  and 
the  entire  congregation  proceeded  to 
visit  Sister  Busey,  and  personally 


66 


Mrs.  A.  S.   Busey 

thank  her  for  her  generous  and  timely 
gift.  It  is  highly  fitting  that  a  brief 
biography  of  "Mother  Busey,"  as  she 
is  affectionately  called,  should  be 
handed  down  to  the  successive  gener- 
ations in  the  church,  who  will  read 
this  history.  At  the  time  of  writing 
this  sketch  she  is  in  her  87th  year, 
and  while  she  suffers  somewhat  on 
account  of  impaired  sight,  she  is 
otherwise  remarkably  active,  and  at- 


tends her  church  services  with  con- 
sistent regularity.  She  is  quite  sure 
that  she  came  into  the  church  under 
Elder  G.  W.  Riley  in  his  second  pas- 
torate, which  would  be  between  1858 
and  1867,  and  she  is  certain  that  she 
was  baptized  in  what  is  now  called 
Crystal  Lake.  She  is  close  on  the 
heels  of  the  oldest  living  members  of 
the  church,  and  may  yet  outlive  them. 
She  certainly  took  a  fine  way  to  make 
her  gift  one  that  would  bring  out  the 
thanksgiving  of  all  who  shall  ever  live 
in  the  splendid  new  parsonage. 


GEORGE    BRASH. 


New    Parsonage,    1905. 


George  W.  Brash  is  one  of  the  best 
known  men  around  town,  as  well  as 
in  the  church.  It  is  probable  that  he 
is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  Sunday  school,  having 
joined  it  fifty  years  ago.  He  was  born 
March  17th,  1858.  He  has  been  all 
these  years  more  or  less  interested  in 
the  church  and  its  work.  When  the 
new  church  was  dedicated  he  became 
its  janitor,  and  with  the  exception  of 
about  two  years  he  has  had  charge  of 
the  church  for  18  years.  It  is  perfect- 


67 


ly  natural  to  see  him  in  and  around 
the  building,  and  the  trustees  give  him 
a  wider  latitude  of  freedom  than  is 
usually  allowed.  As  to  how  he  has 
done  his  work  the  years  of  observa- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  multitudes  that 


have  passed  in  and  out  of  the  building 
will  testify  as  well  as  his  long  years  of 
continuous  service.  While  practically 
a  young  man  he  will  rank  with  those 
of  longest  recollections  of  the  early 
days  of  the  church. 


CHAPTER  X. 
FIRST  BAPTIST  SUNDAY-SCHOOL 

"So  they  read   in  the  book   of  the   law  of  the  Lord  distinctly  and  gave   the 
sense,  and  caused  them  to  understand  the  reading." 


URBANA     BAPTIST     SUNDAY 
SCHOOL. 


C.    W.    Richards,    Superintendent. 

As  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from 
records  the  Baptists  took  part  in  a 
union  school  till  the  church  building 
was  completed  in  1856,  when  a  Bap- 
tist school  was  organized.  This  school 
has  always  flourished,  and  large  num- 
bers have  been  gathered  into  the 
church  through  its  teaching.  The  ef- 


fect of  a  weekly  teachers'  meeting  for 
most  of  the  life  of  the  school,  can- 
not be  estimated.  The  church  is  the 
head  of  the  school,  and  elects  the 
leading  officers,  and  holds  the  balance 
of  power,  when  the  school  needs  ad- 
vice, and  special  help.  Early,  this 
school  felt  the  influence  of  the  work 
of  B.  F.  Jacobs,  our  great  Sunday 
School  worker,  and  organizer.  B.  F. 
Jacobs  is  the  father  of  our  Interna- 
tional system  of  lessons,  which  have 
stood  the  test  as  no  other  plan  has 
so  far.  In  connection  with  this  in- 
ternational idea  of  similar  lessons 
have  grown  up  many  other  institutions 
such  as  institutes,  interdenomination- 
al meeting  for  groups,  and  neigh- 
borhoods, that  have  done  incalculable 
good  for  our  cause.  Early  in  the 
progress  of  this  new  idea  came  that  of 
organized  classes  and  the  Urbana 
school  can  boast  of  such  an  organ- 
ization as  early  as  any.  Our  school  is 
well  organized,  as  the  following  list 
of  names  will  indicate: 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  or- 
ganized classes  with  their  names  and 
the  teachers  who  are  now  teaching 
them.  There  are  but  few  classes  in 
the  school  not  organized.  The  oldest 
in  point  of  history  is  first  given  and 
the  rest  in  the  order  of  their  rooms, 
from  right  to  left  of  the  school  room. 


68 


ORGANIZED  CLASSES 


LOVE   AND  SERVICE. 

She  chose  his  service  for  the  Lord  of  Love 
Had  chosen  her.  and  paid  the  awful  price 
For  her  redemption!  and  sought  her  out, 
And  set  her  free,  and  clothed  her  gloriously, 
And  put  his  royal  ring  upon  her  hand, 
And  crowns  of  loving  kindness  on  her  head." 


This  class  began  with  the  history 
of  the  first  church  building  in  1856, 
when  the  Sunday  School  was  first  or- 
ganized. At  the  first  it  consisted  of 
both  men  and  women.  The  following 
are  some  of  the  teachers  of  the  class: 
Rev.  D.-  F.  Carnahan,  Rev.  W.  H. 
Steadman,  D.D.,  Deacon  Dudley  Mc- 
McClain,  Deacon  Allen  McClain,  Dea- 
con James  Myers,  J.  P.  Blue,  Mrs. 
Hattie  Gere,  Mrs.  Amanda  Allen,  Mrs. 
L.  G.  Hubbard,  Mrs.  Fraflcis  Renfrew, 
Deacon  E.  S.  Hall,  and  Deacon  J.  S. 
Hall.  Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt  is  the  teacher 
at  present. 

The  class  was  organized  in  1909  by 
J.  S.  Hall,  and  called  the  Ladies'  Bi- 
ble Class.  Mrs.  Waller  was  elected 
president,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Lee,  secre- 
tary, and  treasurer,  both  serving  two 
years.  In  1911  Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt  was 
elected  teacher;  Mrs.  Ella  Button, 
president;  Mrs.  Mary  Lee,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  May  20t'h,  1912,  the 
class  met  in  the  church  and  reorgan- 
ized, changing  the  name  to  "The  Love 
and  Service  Bible  Class  of  the  First 


Baptist  Church."  The  class  adopted 
the  geranium  as  the  class  flower,  and 
the  name  of  the  class  is  its  motto, 
"Love  and  Service."  One  of  the  works 
of  this  class  is  to  give  flowers  to  the 
sick,  and  "shut  ins." 

The  present  enrollment  of  the  class 
is  41,  and  its  average  attendance  20. 

The  officers  for  1912  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt,  teacher. 

Mrs.  Fred  Hubbard,  assistant  teach- 
er. 

Mrs.  Ella  Sutton,  president. 

Mrs.  Dora  Van  Doren,  vice-presi- 
dent. 

Mrs.  Alice  Freeman,  secretary. 

Mrs.  Mary  Lee,  treasurer. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Walker,  libarian. 

Mrs.  Fred  Hubbard,  reporter. 

Mrs.  Elsie  Sharp,  entertainer. 

June  17th,  1913,  the  class  met  with 
Mrs.  Artemesia  Busey  for  a  picnic 
supper  and  for  the  election  of  officers. 
The  officers  of  1912  were  elected  as  a 
whole  for  1913. 


"OUR  CLASS" 


"One 
OUR  CLASS. 

In  1868  Mrs.  Kate  Glasgow  organiz- 
ed a  class  of  girls  and  taught  them 
until  January  1st,  1874,  when  on  ac- 
count of  her  age  she  asked  L.  A.  Mc- 
Lean, then  superintendent  of  the 
school,  to  take  it,  which  he  did. 

This  was  the  first  class  to  organize, 
and  was  the  beginning  of  cass  organiz- 


by  one." 

ation  in  the  school.  Mr.  McLean  has 
taught  the  class  ever  since,  with  the 
exception  of  several  months  this  year 
while  sick  when  the  work  was  carried 
on  by  Mrs.  L.  A.  McLean  with  excel- 
lent success,  and  she  is  and  has  been 
for  about  two  years  and  over  recogniz- 
ed as  the  assistant  teacher,  and  while 
Mr.  McLean  does  the  teaching  she 


69 


does  the  "Mothering,"  and  is  the  ad- 
viser of  the  girls,  a  position  which 
she  is  so  able  to  fill. 

The    prime    object    is    to    lead    the 


L.  A.  McLean 

members  to  Christ,  and  then  build 
them  up  in  Christ,  and  the  funda- 
mental principles  of  right  living  and 


of  preparing  for  the  time  when  they 
shall  take  charge  of  homes  of  their 
own  and  of  making  the  burdens  of 
life  lighter  for  their  parents.  This  is 
the  fifth  generation  which  has  been 
taken  in  the  class,  and  as  fast  as  they 
are  prepared  they  are  graduated  out 
as  teachers,  or  workers.  Over  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  girls  have 
passed  through  the  class.  Over  fifty 
heads  of  families  in  Urbana  have  been 
members.  One  of  the  graduates  not 
long  since  said  to  Mr.  McLean,  "Did 
you  know  that  out  of  the  large  num- 
ber of  the  girls  of  the  class  who  have 
been  married,  there  has  not  been  a 
single  divorce?" 

The  teacher  found  that  this  was 
true  with  only  one  exception.  The 
teacher  is  very  proud  of  his  work  done 
in  the  past  thirty-nine  years,  and  re- 
gards this  as  his  life  work. 


"AGOMA"_STUDENT    CLASS 

AGO  MA. 

"The  heart  of  the  righteous  studieth  to  answer." 


A  student  class  was  organized  Sep- 
tember, 1906-1907  by  Dr.  E.  G.  Dexter. 
In  the  summer  of  1907,  he  moved  to 
Porto  Rico.  In  1907-1908  the  class 
was  taught  by  E.  S.  Hall.  During 
this  period  the  class  grew  in  numbers, 
due  largely  to  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Roy 
G.  Merrifield,  student  pastor  for  1907- 
1908.  He  divided  his  time  between 
this  and  the  Champaign  church,  urg- 
ing students  to  attend  the  church,  and 
Sunday  School  services.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  term  that  the  class  was  or- 
ganized as  the  "Agoma"  class.  In  1910- 
1911  the  class  was  taught  by  Prof.  J. 
G.  Van  Zandt.  International  Lessons 
were  used  as  before  with  special  em- 
phasis on  what  was  called  laboratory 
work.  He  was  always  careful  to  make 
present  day  applications  to  the  lesson 


class  some  practical  work  to  do  dur- 
ing the  week. 

In  1911-1912  the  class  was  taught 
by  Dr.  C.  S.  Wilson,  who  was  not  in 
favor  of  the  International  Lessons  for 
adult  classes.  He  lead  the  class  in  a 
study  of  the  "Life  of  Christ,"  by  Bur- 
ton and  Matthiews,  with  a  harmony  of 
the  Gospels,  by  Stevens  and  Burton. 
He  urged  the  reading  of  an  entire 
book  at  one  sitting  before  taking  it  up 
in  parts  for  study. 

The  class  is  made  up  almost  entire- 
ly of  students,  though  during  the  year 
1912-1913,  the  "old  men's  class"  has 
been  somewhat  disbanded  for  want  of 
a  teacher,  and  frequently  sit  with 
the  "Agomas."  It  is  a  "co-ed"  class 
and  cordially  invites  students,  espe- 
cially to  its  meetings  every  Sunday 


truths.     Every    Sunday    he    gave    the   •  morning.    It  is  an  organized  class  with 


70 


George  Mahn  as  president,  and  Miss 
Elsie  Shott  as  vice  president,  Miss 
Bertha  Dunn  as  secretary,  and  Miss 
Nora  Parker,  treasurer.  Since  Sep- 
tember, 1912,  the  pastor,  Rev.  Gideon 
M.  Shott,  D.D.,  has  been  the  teacher, 
and  much  attached  to  his  class.  He 
teaches  by  lecture,  and  aims  to  take 
the  widest  possible  range  of  instruc- 
tion in  order  to  prepare  each  member 
of  the  class  to  become  a  teacher,  here, 
or  elsewhere 


The  enrollment  is  about  35,  with  the 
attendance  about  the  same  as  the  en- 
rollment. A  special  rally  will  be  made 
about  the  time  this  book  gets  into  the 
hands  of  its  readers,  to  make  that 
class  up  to  one  hundred.  A  most  de- 
lightful evening  was  spent  by  the  class 
at  the  parsonage  at  the  closing  of  the 
school  year.  These  class  meetings 
may  be  held  quarterly  with  the  begin- 
ning of  the  school  year  in  September. 


TRI-MU. 


For  it's  something'  to  start;  it's  something1  to  bring 

Your  brain,  soul,  and  muscle  to  strive  in  the  ring; 

It's  something  to  fall,   when  the  foeman   is  stout. 

But   it's   "nothing"'    to  stand  at  the   platT  and   "strike   out." 


J.  S.  Hall. 


On  April  18,  1907,  a  class  in  the 
Sunday  School  was  organized  for  the 
younger  married  people  of  the  church, 
by  Mrs.  Ida  Meigs.  Its  first  name 
was,  "New  Movement  Adult  Bible 


Class,"  changed  to  Tri-Mu,  May  8, 
1907.  It  was  organized  with  a  mem- 
bership of  8.  Mrs.  Ida  Meigs  was  its 
first  president,  which  position  she 
held  till  she  removed  from  Urbana, 
September  1st,  1912.  Mrs.  Maud  Mil- 
ler has  been  its  president  since  that 
time.  The  first  secretary  was  W.  W. 
Bond,  the  following  occupying  that 
office  for  longer  or  shorter  terms: 

Mr. Merrick,  Minnie  Hubbard, 

Verne  Smith,  and  its  present  secre- 
tary, E.  T.  Lanham.  The  first  teacher 
was  Miss  Wenona  Benefiel,  the  next, 
Professor  Woolman,  the  next  Prof. 
William  Dietrick,  and  the  next  Deacon 
J.  S.  Hall,  its  present  teacher.  The 
class  meets  monthly  on  Tuesday  night 
for  business,  and  sociability,  and  the 
ladies  of  the  class  meet  a  part  of  the 
year  weekly  for  social  entertainment. 
Its  present  enrollment  is  GO.  Its  name 
implies,  "Muscle,  Mind,  and  Morals." 
Its  motto  is:  "I  am  only  one,  but  I  am 
one;  I  cannot  do  everything,  but  I  can 
do  something;  what  I  can  do,  I  ought 
to  do,  and  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  will 
do." 


71 


INTERMEDIATE    DEPARTMENT 


Class.         organized.  Teacher. 

Love  and  Service — 1856..Mrs.  N.  Hunt 

Our  Class — 1868 L.  A.  McLean 

Tri-Mu— April  18,  1907 J.  S.  Hall 

Agoma — Sept.  1906~..Rev.  G.  M.  Shott 
Baptist  Boosters-Howard  Ammerman 
Baptist  Volunteers. ...Mark  VanDoren 

True  Blues Miss  Elizabeth  Webber 

The  Baptist  Club..Mrs.  Emma  Bennett 


Willing   Workers Mrs.   C.   Hissong 

Royal  Leaders J.  L.  Hissong 

Judson  Mission  Class Elsie  Shott 

Golden  Rule   Class Feme   Mitchell 

What  I  Can  Class..Mrs.  Flora  Cottrell 

Buds   of   Promise Ethel   Stevenson 

Dorcas  Club Miss  Lura  Parker 

Excelsior  Club Miss  Stella  Renfro 

Willing  Workers Miss  Grace  Roney 


PRIMARY   DEPARTMENT. 

'A  little  child  shall  lead  them." 


Miss  Anna  Webber 

As  far  as  can  be  learned,  Mrs. 
Amanda  Allen  was  the  first  primary 
teacher,  being  followed  by  Mrs.  Hoi- 
lister  and  the  Misses  Mayme  McClain, 
Alice  Fugate  and  Maggie  Riley.  Miss 
Nellie  McLean,  now  Mrs.  Nellie  Lum- 
ley,  took  charge  of  the  work  in  1882, 
and  continued  until  1889.  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Leavitt  and  Mrs.  Smith,  the  latter  the 
wife  of  the  pastor,  had  charge  dur- 


ing the  next  two  years.  Mrs.  Fannie 
Dicken  followed  in  '92  and  '93  and 
was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  J.  F.  Mills, 
in  '94.  Mrs.  Belle  Conner  followed 
and  taught  till  the  summer  of  '02. 
Miss  Myrta  Clark  taught  from  '02  till 
June,  '05  when  Miss  Anna  Webber 
took  up  the  work  and  is  still  in 
charge.  In  the  old  church  the  pri- 
mary met  in  the  little  room  at  the 
northwest  end  of  the  church,  using 
the  little  red  benches  so  well  remem- 
bered by  those  who  attended  at  that 
time.  After  the  new  church  was  built 
the  primary  occupied  the  rooms  in 
the  basement  known  as  the  dining 
room  and  ladies'  parlor.  The  De- 
partment teaching  force  now  includes 
the  superintendent,  secretary  and 
seven  teachers.  The  records  show 
that  since  June,  '05,  640  children  have 
been  enrolled  in  this  department,  and 
131  have  been  promoted.  The  pres- 
ent enrollment  is  125,  25  having  just 
been  promoted.  Since  1905,  two 
teachers  have  passed  to  the  great  be- 
yond, namely:  Miss  Grace  Hall  and 
Miss  Effle  Winchester.  There  have 
been  no  deaths  among  the  children 
enrolled  during  this  time.  A  great 
many  have  come  into  the  Primary 
from  the  Cradle  Roll  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Cradle  Roll,  in 
April,  1913. 


72 


HOME      DEPARTMENT. 

"Thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk  of  them 
when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when 
thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up." 


The  Home  Department  of  our  Sun-  » 
day  School  was  organized  January  1,  ] 
1901,  by  Miss  Nelle  Hubbard,  who  was 
made  its  first  superintendent,  and 
held  that  office  till  January,  1913.  In 
1907,  Branch  iSunday  School  No.  1 
was  organized  on  East  California 
street,  and  many  of  the  Home  De- 
partment members  gave  regularly  to 
its  support.  It  then  numbered  about 
75  members.  At  the  beginning  of 
1913,  Miss  Nelle  Hubbard  became 
superintendent  of  the  Cunningham 
Avenue  School  and  resigned  the  su- 
perintendency  of  the  Home  Depart- 


ment, and  Mrs.  G.  M.  Shott  was  ap- 
pointed  superintendent. 

This  department  is  calculated  to 
bring  the  Bible  back  to  the  home  and 
create  a  desire  on  the  part  of  parents 
to  teach  and  help  their  children  to 
understand  its  precious  truth.  Every 
sincere  believer  will  welcome  and 
help  forward  this  great  work.  Every 
member,  of  the  church  should  be  en- 
rolled in  it,  and  take  the  readings, 
and  report  to  the  visitors  of  the  Home 
Department  so  that  a  perfect  report 
can  be  made  for  each  Annual  Direct- 
ory. 


CRADLE    ROLL 

"  Only  a  tender  flower 

Sent  us  to  rear, 
Only  a  life   to   love 

While  we  are  here. 
Only  a  baby  small. 

Never   at   rest. 
Small,   but   how   dear  to  us, 
God   knoweth   best." 


This  department  was  organized 
April,  1903,  by  Miss  Nelle  Hubbard, 
with  20  members.  No  graduation 
exercises  into  the  Beginners  Depart- 
ment have  been  held,  but  when  a  child 
enters  the  main  school,  a  certificate 
to  that  effect  is  given. 


Miss  Nellie  Hubbard  was  its  first 
Superintendent  and  Mrs.  Mae  Creek 
is  its  present  superintendent.  Twen- 
ty-four have  just  been  graduated 
from  the  Beginners  department  to  the 
main  school.  The  enrollment  at 
present  is  104. 


Extreme  age  and  tender  childhood 
meet  in  this  Sunday  school.  The  lit- 
tle child  clinging  to  another's  hand 
and  the  old  man  and  woman  leaning 
on  the  staff,  are  common  sights.  An 
orchestra  takes  a  very  prominent  part 
in  the  musical  part  of  the  Sunday 
School.  At  the  head  of  the  Sunday 
School  music  department  on  most 
Sunday  mornings  one  may  see  Mr.  N. 
A.  Riley  wielding  the  baton,  and  lead- 
ing the  singing  with  as  much  of  his 
old  time  energy  as  the  whitening 


years  will  admit.  He  stands  as 
straight  and  steps  as  light  as  when 
in  1865  he  began  to  lead  the  old  choir. 
It  was  about  that  time  that  he  began 
leading  the  music  of  the  Sunday 
school.  Fifty  years  of  song! 

The  following  superintendents  serv- 
ed at  a  time  when  no  records  were 
kept  or  they  have  been  lost:  1856- 
1860,  J.  N.  Wilson;  1861,  A.  J.  Allen; 
1862,  E.  S.  Packard;  1863,  George 
Browning;  1864-1868,  A.  J.  Allen; 
1869-1870,  L.  A.  McLean.  The  follow- 


73 

ing  table  shows  the  rest  of  the  super-      gether  with  all  the  statistics  that  are 
intendents  up  to  the  present  time,  to-      available. 


"The  branch  of  my  planting,  the  work  of  my  hands,  that  I  may  be  glorified.' 


BRANCH  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  NO.  1. 

Branch  Sunday  School  No.  1  was  or- 
ganized October  27th,  1907,  in  a  small 
dwelling  house  situated  at  806  East 
California  street.  Deacon  William 
Gardner  was  the  first  superintendent, 
and  he  continued  in  office  till  his  re- 
moval from  the  city,  about  seven 
months  later.  Walter  Bond,  Rev.  E. 
E.  Gulick,  T.  L.  Warrick,  W.  E.  Carn- 
ahan,  and  Joel  Coffey  followed  as  su- 
perintendents. In  connection  with 
this  school,  Mrs.  Catherine  Hissong, 
one  of  the  teachers,  organized  a 
"Mother's  Club,"  which  helped  very 


much  socially  and  financially.  From 
the  first  there  was  a  good  interest, 
and  good  feeling  in  the  neighborhood 
toward  the  school.  Several  professed 
conversion  from  the  school  and  many 
came  into  the  home  school,  some  join- 
ing the  church.  After  three  years' 
work  the  school  was  abandoned  for 
lack  of  interest  on  the  part  of  the 
church,  and  not  on  the  part  of  the 
neighborhood.  During  the  whole  time 
the  school  paid  all  its  regular  ex- 
penses, paid  some  on  the  rent,  and 
gave  something  each  year  for  mis 
sions.  What  a  power  that  work  might 
have  been  if  it  had  been  kept  up. 


"Each   one   resembled 
CHILDREN    OF    THE    KING. 


Sunday,  October  8th,  1888,  a  meeting 
was  held  in  the  church  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  a  society  to  be 
known  as  "The  Children  of  the 
King."  Twenty-nine  persons  united 
in  the  formation,  and  elected  Nellie 
McLean  as  president.  George  Hub- 
bard,  secretary;  Flora  Ross,  treasur- 
er; Rev.  T.  F.  Leavitt.  instructor. 
Meetings  were  held  with  regularity 
from  the  organization  till  January, 
1890,  when  the  only  records  in  the 
possession  of  your  committee  sudden- 
ly stop,  leaving  all  the  rest  of  the 
pages  in  the  book  blank. 

BAPTIST     BOYS'     BRIGADE. 


the  children   of  a   king." 

The  society  had  one  special  good 
thing  in  its  make-up,  and  that  was  the 
study  of  the  Word  of  God  under  com- 
petent instructors.  Concerts  and  com- 
mittees on  various  subjects  enough  to 
confuse  older  heads  must  have  had 
something  to  do  with  its  sudden 
death.  The  pages  of  this  society  will 
very  clearly  show  why  there  are  so 
many  people  who  think  social  work  is 
all  the  church  work  there  is  to  do. 
Too  much  care  cannot  be  taken  in  the 
starting  of  new  societies  to  put  them 
on  a  high  and  safe  basis,  and  teach 
them  the  right  relations  of  the  church 
and  kingdom  of  Christ. 


February  28th,  1903,  the  Baptist 
Boys'  Brigade  was  organized  by  Will 
Groom  and  Glenn  ridge.  The  age  line 
was  set  from  10-17,  and  by  May  of 
the  same  year  the  enrollment  was  70. 


Col.  R.  J.  Lewis  of  the  Iowa  State  Col- 
lege, assisted  in  drilling  the  brigade 
for  special  entertainments.  No  further 
records  can  be  found  except  a  refer- 
ence in  the  Association  Minutes  of 
1904,  "an  excellent  Boys'  Brigade  is 
maintained." 


74 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  TABLE 


HO 


pq 

o 

3 

CD 

H 

CD 
•3 


L.  A.  McLean. 1871 

L.  A.  McLean 1872 

L.  A.  McLean. : 1873 

L.    A.    McLean 1874 

L.  A.  McLean 1875 

L.    A.    McLean., ; 1876 

L.  A.  McLean 1877 

L.  A.  McLean 1878 

Allen  McClain.:. 1879 

Allen  McClain 1880 

Ozias   Riley   1881 

J.  P.  Blue 1882 

J.  P.  Blue ; 1883 

J.   P.   Blue   1884 

J.  P.  Blue 1885 

L.  A.  McLean 1886 

L.    A.    McLean 1887 

L.   A.  McLean 1888 

L.  A.  McLean 1889 

J.  P.  Blue 1890 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Julian 1881! 

C.    A.    Tufts 1892 

C.    A.    Tufts 1893 

C.  A.  Tufts 1894 

C.  A.  Tufts  1895 

C.  A.  Tufts 1896 

C.  A.  Tufts 1897 

C.  A.  Tufts 1898 

J.  S.  Hall  1900 

J.  S.  Hall 1901 

J.  S.  Hall  : 1902 

J.  S.  Hall  1903 

J.  S.  Hall  1904 

J.  S.  Hall  1905 

C.  W.  Richards  1906 

C.  W.  Richards  1907 

C.  W.  Richards  1908 

C.   W.  Richards   1909 

C.  W.  Richards 1910 

C.  W.  Richards  1911 

C.  W.  Richards  1912 

C.  W.  Richards  ...  ..  1913 


200 
136 


175 


250 


300 
215 


28350 


300 
300 
310 
250 


22J250 
18J250 


22 
22 
22 
26 
28 
29 
31 
30 
29 
34 
34 


250 
250 
255 
166 
192 
189 
250 
232 
287 
348 
225 
258 
299 
277 
275 
301 
280 
406 
555 
425 
575 
500 
490 


120 
114 


155 


210 
200 
273 
240 
182 
178 
174 
164 
160 
160 
160 
152 
133 
170 
157 
231 
172 
195 
225 
168 
159 
150 
162 
175 
180 
194 
350 
385 
370 
387 
300 
350 


10 


115 
100 
105 


20.50 
22.70 
28.90 
25.00 
12.50 
6.21 
17.20 
11.59 
20.00 

9.08 

3.40 

15.00 

35.37 

16.50 

12.39 


66.36 
50.00 


75.00 


63.00 


60.00 


100.00 
96.65 


98.00 
79.25 
75.00 
75.00 
97.50 
116.18 
94.22 


120.36 
134.50 
124.95 
101.27 
106.00 
125.00 
108.59 
163.22 
179.00 
191.63 
190.71 
184.89 
250.00 
450.00 
450.00 


75.00 


63.00 


60.00 


100.00 
96.65 


118.50 
101.95 
103.90 
100.00 
110.00 
122.39 
111.42 


104.53  116.12 


140.36 
134.50 
134.03 
104.67 
121.00 
160.37 
125.09 
163.22 
191.39 
191.63 
190.71 
184.89 
250.00 
450.00 
516.36 


450.00)450.00 
450.00(500.00 
275.00J275.00 


372.70  5189.45  55G2.15 


75 


CHAPTER  XL 
BAPTIST  YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  SOCIETIES 

"We  study  that  we  may  serve." 


Pres.   S.  A.    Rowland. 


About  the  year  1878  the  Carman 
family  came  to  Champaign,  where 
Rev.  I.  N.  Carman  was  pastor  for  sev- 
eral years.  John  C.  Carman,  then  a 
mere  lad,  caught  a  vision  of  a  young 
people's  organization  that  should  be- 
come state  wide,  and  perhaps  world 
wide.  It  was  called  Youths'  Chris- 
tian Association.  It  was  organized  in 
Indianapolis  in  1876.  Its  distinguish- 
ing principle  for  which  it  was  organ- 
ized was  Bible  reading,  and  interpre 
tation,  and  the  application  of  the 
things  they  learned  to  personal  work. 
A  more  earnest  and  serious  company 
of  young  people  it  would  be  hard  to 
find.  Brother  John  C.  Carman  was 
the  acknowledged  leader,  with  officers 
under  him  in  the  various  departments. 


B.  A.  Cushman  was  the  first  president 
in  the  society  in  our  church.  While 
it  was  interdenominational,  and  other 
churches  had  similar  organizations, 
the  Baptist  young  people  had  the 
largest,  and  indeed  some  of  other  de- 
nominations were  members  in  the 
Baptist  society.  Miss  Jennie  Monett 
(Burton)  was  the  state  representative. 
Miss  Nellie  Carman,  and  Miss  Nellie 
McLean  taught  children's  meetings 
along  somewhat  the  same  lines  as 
the  Jxiniors  of  today  are  taught.  Part 
of  the  training  of  the  Y.  C.  A.  was 
how  to  conduct  business  meetings, 
make  motions,  organize  deliberative 
bodies,  and  conventions.  Some  of  the 
best  workers  in  the  First  church,  and 
in  the  community,  were  able  to  take 
a  higher  place  in  the  history  of  the 
churches  of  the  community  because  of 
the  high  standards  sustained  at  that 
time.  Many  of  the  older  members 
who  are  active  in  the  First  church  to- 
day were  members  of  that  early  so- 
ciety. About  this  time,  February  2, 
1881,  the  Christian  Endeavor  society 
was  organized,  and  soon  eclipsed,  and 
in  1885  absorbed  the  Y.  C.  A.,  though 
at  its  best  C.  E.  has  never  laid  out 
such  a  field  of  work,  nor  prosecuted  it 
in  as  close,  and  careful  way,  as  the 
earlier,  and  smaller  society.  As  was 
natural,  and  to  be  expected,  most  of 
the  societies  of  our  Baptist  young 
people,  went  into  this  new  Endeavor 
movement,  and  it  was  pushed  with 
such  vigor  that  it  seemed  to  be  draw- 
ing all  our  youth  away  from  our  dis- 
tinctive church  doctrines,  and  work. 
In  self-defense  of  the  denomniation  it 
was  necessary  that  another  organiza- 


76 


tion  should  be  effected  that  would  be 
as  wide  in  its  scope  as  the  former  so- 
ciety. Dr.  F.  L.  Wilkins  and  others 
met  in  the  Second  Baptist  church  of 
Chicago  July  7th,  1891,  and  organized 
the  Baptist  Young  People's  Union  of 
America.  Launched  in  great  prayer, 
and  caution,  it  soon  became  a  strong 
force  in  the  field,  and  rallied  from 
5,000  to  10,000  people  at  its  annual 
gatherings.  Many  Baptists  who  went 
into  the  Endeavor  movement  came  out 
of  that,  and  took  up  the  distinctly  de- 
nominational work,  and  added  some 
features  in  the  way  of  special  Chris- 
tian culture  studies  that  have  been, 
and  are  still,  without  a  peer  in  any  of 
the  other  movements. 

The  tides  of  interest  in  our  local  so- 
ciety has  ebbed,  and  flowed  from  one 
position  to  another,  and  while  it  has 
profitted  by  some  of  the  best  things  in 
all  these  forms,  it  has  never  serious- 
ly set  itself  to  the  business  of  largest 
efficiency  in  any  of  them.  As  nearly 
as  possible  the  dates  will  be  given, 
and  such  statistics  as  are  available, 
as  to  its  officers  and  what  money  was 
raised,  and  other  special  matters  of 
history. 

,lt  is  to  be  regretted  here  that  many 
of  the  dates  that  are  on  some  of  the 
books  are  only  partial  dates,  and  no 
orderly  manner  of  keeping  records  has 
ever  been  adopted.  One  advantage  in 
writing  this  history  is  to  create  in  all 


clerks  and  secretaries  a  desire  to  keep 
records  for  the  sake  of  the  future  his-r 
torian. 

No  records  of  any  Young  Peoples 
organization  can  be  found  from  1880 
or  earlier  till  1892.  Burritt  A.  Cush- 
man  was  the  president  of  the  earliest 
soriety.  In  1892  Clara  Lee  was  secre- 
tary, and  from  189G  to  1900  F.  C.  Hub- 
bard  was  secretary,  and  no  name  of 
president  is  given  since  1892-1903. 
Lulu  Gardner  was  secretary  and  in 
1905,  Ombra  Herriott  and  1906,  Pearl 
Webber.  The  presidents  since  1907 
have  been  as  follows:  1907,  J.  C. 
Thorpe;  1908,  J.  C.  Thorpe;  1909, 
Howard  Ammerman;  1910,  F.  W.  Gar- 
rett;  1911,  Joel  Coffey;  1913,  Earl 
Strong;  1912,  S.  A.  Rowland;  secretary 
for  1909,  Horace  Ingalls;  1910,  Flora 
M.  Parker;  1911,  Edna  Wardall;  1912, 
Ruah  Loveless;  1913,  Sadie  Jones. 
The  average  membership  during  the 
years  where  any  record  can  be  found 
for  the  work  of  the  Young  People  in 
— G  in  all — is  72.  Money  given  to  mis- 
sions, $684.65.  Current  expenses, 
$310.45.  Total  money  reported  on 
records  found,  $995.10.  This  amount 
includes  the  pledge  to  Dr.  Timpany,  in 
India.  As  this  history  goes  to  print 
the  B.  Y.  P.  U.  of  America  is  in  ses- 
sion at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  where 
doubtless  many  good  motions  will  be 
carried  in  view  of  greater  efficiency 
the  kingdom. 


JUNIOR    SOCIETY 


"Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be 
The  earliest  report  of  a  Junior  C.  E. 
society  in  the  minutes  of  the  Bloom- 
field  Association  was  in  1895.  Miss 
Clara  Cranberry  was  leader.  A  table 
of  membership  is  given  in  last  two 
columns  of  Senior  Society  table.  Miss 
Lucia  Hall  was  leader  in  1896.  No 
leader  is  reported  for  1897.  Miss 
Edith  Fenner  was  leader  for  1899  and 


about  my   father's  business?" 

1900.  There  is  no  report  in  minutes 
for  any  year  since.  Tne  church  direc- 
tory for  1902  contains  some  items. 
The  society  collected  some  fruit  and 
jelly,  and  the  girls  dressed  dolls  for 
Miss  McKean  of  New  York  City. 
Twenty-three  took  C.  C.  C.  work  and 
three  completed  the  four  years'  work. 
Total  amount  raised  during  the  year, 


77 


$1.06.  In  1903  the  Junior  boys  showed 
much  inteerst  in  distributing  good  lit- 
erature and  the  girls  dressed  dolls  for 
Miss  McKean.  The  Juniors  planted 
nasturtium  seed,  whose  flowers  were 
brought  to  the  church  during  the 
summer.  In  the  autumn  interesting 
graduation  exercises  were  held  for 
eleven  Juniors,  who .  graduated  into 
the  Senior  society.  Twenty-two  Jun- 
iors successfully  passed  the  C.  C.  C. 
examinations.  Total  amount  of  money 
raised,  $31.21.  Margaret  Fenner, 
leader.  In  1904  it  was  noted  that  the 
boys  and  girls  met  separately  in  the 
study  of  the  C.  C.  C.  and  22  examina- 
tion papers  were  sent  to  headquarters. 
Fourteen  Juniors  have  been  received 
into  the  church  by  baptism.  Amount 
raised,  $31.57.  Margaret  Fenner, 
leader.  There  are  no  reports  again  till 
1909,  when  it  is  noted  that  a  Junior 
Baptist  church  was  organized,  April 
4th,  1909.  Meetings  were  held  each 
Sunday  afternoon  except  in  August, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  about 
30.  Amount  raised,  $7.77.  1910,  no 
report.  In  1911,  mention  is  made  of 


special  mission  studies,  but  no  statis- 
tics are  given  except  the  enrollment 
of  40.  1912  the  Junior  Society  of  C. 

E.  was  re-organized  as  a  Junior  B.  Y. 
P.  U.    Mrs.  Catherine  Hissong,  leader. 
Enrollment,  38;    amount  raised,  $8.19. 
No  examinations  in  C.  C.  C.  work  tak- 
en  this   year.     Society   adjourned   for 
the    summer,    June    1st.      Among    the 
leaders  for'  whom  dates  are  uncertain 
are  Mrs.  Pilcher,  Miss  Nettie  Roberts, 
Mr.  Miller,  Miss  Verne  Mitchell,  Mrs. 

F.  F.   Leonard,  and   Mrs.   Burt   Hays. 
The  membership  is  referred     to     nine 
times,  making  an  average     of    active 
members,  20;  associate,  30.    The  high- 
est active  membership  reported  is  40 
and  highest  associate  is  40.     It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  the  records  have  not 
been  kept. 


"  Wherewithal  shall  a  young-  man  cleanse  his  way? 
By  taking  heed  thereto  according  to  thy  word." 


INTERMEDIATE  SOCIETY 

February,  1911,  cards  were  sent  out 
to  a  number  of  the  young  people,  ask- 
ing them  to  meet  for  the  organization 
of  an  Intermediate  Society  of  C.  E. 
March  12th,  1911,  sixteen  met,  and 
were  organized  by  Mr.  Quist  and  the 
pastor.  Mark  Van  Doren  was  the 
first  president.  Fifteen  charter  mem- 
bers soon  increased  to  45.  The  new 
society  met  each  Sunday  night  at 
6:15.  The  vacation  of  the  first  sum- 
mer, practically  suspended  the  society 
for  three  months.  September  6th, 
1911,  the  society  reorganized  with 


Dudley  Kirkland  as  president.  They 
raised  some  money,  and  pledged  $5 
for  church  support,  and  proposed  to 
make  a  similar  gift  to  missions. 

No  further  records  can  be  found,  ex- 
cept the  very  lamentable  fact  that 
only  a  very  few  of  the  Intermediates 
ever  attend  the  'Senior  Society  to 
which  they  are  eligible,  and  many  of 
them  are  members  of  the  church. 
Many  efforts  have  been  made  to  get 
them  to  line  up  with  the  Senior  So- 
ciety without  avail.  Only  a  few  have 
so  identified  themselves.  There  was 
no  disposition  to  reorganize  this  so- 
ciety in  the  autumn  of  1912. 


78 

CHAPTER  XII. 
MISSIONS 

CENTENNIAL 

"  Weep  not  that  the  world  changes — did  it  keep 

A    stable    changeless    state,    'twere    cause    indeed    to    weep. 


CENTENNIAL      BAPTIST      MISSION. 


Centennial   Erected  1876 

Elder  W.  H.  Steadman,  early  in  his 
ministry  with  the  First  Church  be- 
gan Bible  readings,  with  a  view  to 
trained  evangelistic  services.  Manv 
of  the  brethren  caught  the  idea,  und 
went  out  into  the  neighboring  school 
houses,  and  reproduced,  with  their 
own  personal  comments,  the  practical 
things  they  had  learned  in  the  pastor's 
class.  The  Centennial  School  House 
was  one  of  the  strategic  points  for 
such  a  service.  Very  successful 
meetings  were  held  there.  In  1878 
Elder  Steadman  ably  assisted  by 
Deacon  Allan  McClain,  held  a  meet- 
ing in  the  school  house,  when  about 
60  were  united  with  the  First  church, 
nearly  all  by  baptism.  During  the 
winter  of  1879  the  school  house  was 
closed  against  the  work.  Elder 
Steadman,  Brethren  Myers,  Apperson, 


McClain,  and  others,  set  to  work,  and 
soon  had  a  comfortable  building  paid 
for,  holding  about  300  persons.  Broth- 
er Allen  McClain  took  charge  of  this 
mission,  and  held  several  successful 
revivals,  and  added  a  large  number  to 
the  church.  Pursuant  to  a  pervious 
announcement,  a  maeting  was  held  in 
the  Centennial  meeting  house,  .UfiY 
12.  1885,  for  the  purpose  of  organiz- 
ing a  church.  Letters  of  dismission 
from  the  First  church  had  been  gi-xrt- 
ed  to  the  following:  F.  P.  Apperson, 
S.  M.  Boyd,  Elizabeth  Boyd,  Patience 
Apperson,  Katie  Boley,  Susan  Brown, 
John  Griffith,  May  Griffith,  Martha 
Hughes,  William  D.  Siade,  John  Wat- 
pon,  Louisiana  Deck,  Mary  E.  Shuman, 
Daniel  Grimes,  Jennie  Brown,  Ebert 
Brown,  Uriah  B.  Ward,  Peter  Good, 
Lo/lnda  Watson,  Lucy  Slade.  An  ad- 
visory committee  consisting  of  Deacon 
G.  A.  Walker,  Deacon  J.  W.  Cushman, 
F.  M.  Snyder,  and  James  T.  Butler 
were  sent  from  the  First  Church.  John 
Watson  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Miss  Nettie  Fitzgerald,  clerk.  William 
Slade  and  F.  P.  Apperson  were  elect- 
ed deacons.  F.  P.  Apperson,  William 
Slade,  Daniel  Grimes,  and  G.  A.  Walk- 
er from  First  Church,  were  eletced 
trustees.  The  New  Hampshire  Cov- 
enant and  articles  of  faith  were  adopt- 
ed. On  October  10th,  1885,  at  business 
meeting,  a  difference  of  opinion  on  the 
matter  of  financing  the  church  was 
warmly  discussed.  The  decision  was 
to  take  up  a  collection  whenever  tho 
money  was  needed. 

Deacon  Allen   McClain  was   spoken 
of  as  Pastor,  and  money  was  paid  to 


79 


him  for  such  service,  but  there  is  no 
record  of  his  call.  November  28,  1885, 
they  decided  not  to  take  up  a  collec- 
tion on  Sunday  evenings.  A  motion 
was  made  to  adopt  "foot-washing"  as 
an  ordinance  in  the  church  but  ac- 
tion was  deferred,  and  the  matter  is 
never  referred  to  again.  December 
10,  1887,  it  was  decided  to  close  doors 
to  outsiders,  on  business  meeting 
nights.  January  16,  1888,  the  follow- 
ing was  adopted,  "It  is  the  one  that 
leads  meeting  to  move  the  stand  about 
over  the  church,  to  try  to  get  the  peo- 
ple to  keep  order,  if  that  won't  do 
they  are  to  try  them  by  the  law."  It 
was  also  decided  that  "it  is  the  duty 
of  the  clerk  to  count  the  money,  and 
put  it  on  the  lap  of  the  treasurer. 
August  20,  1889,  the  membership  was 
30.  At  that  time  they  paid  $30  for 
missions,  and  the  Sunday  school  ex- 
pense was  also  $30.  January  31,  1897, 
a  Young  People's  Society  was  organ- 
ized. John  Archdeacon  was  elected 
president.  Several  references  are 
made  between  the  years  1897  and 
1898  to  the  presence,  and  service  of 
Rev.  J.  F.  Mills  of  the  First  Church. 
February  29,  1899,  a  motion  was 
adopted  to  pay  Brother  Campbell 
$300  per  annum  as  pastor.  On  account 
of  inadequate  records  it  is  impossible 
to  continue  the  history.  The  work  is 
being  kept  up,  however,  by  Rev.  Ed- 
gar Woolhouse,  who  held  a  very  help- 
ful meeting  there  in  December  of 
1912,  with  (considerable  encourage- 
ment. The  property  is  still  held  in 
trust  by  the  trustees  of  the  First 
Church,  Urbana,  and  cannot  be  dispos- 
ed of  on  account  of  terms  of  donor. 
Permission  was  given  February  2, 
1878,  to  the  members  of  the  church 
living  at  Centennial,  to  observe  the 
Lord's  Supper.  A  nickering  interest 
has  been  kept  up  here,  since  the  work 
was  started,  veering  between  union- 
ism and  denominationalism.  They 


have  not  been  exempt  from  times  of 
trial,  and  discipline,  and  deep  feeling. 
They  have  proven  themselves  very 
human,  but  have  enjoyed  many  rich 
seasons  of  reviving  grace.  The  prox- 
imity of  the  church  to  the  new  inter- 
urban  car  line,  with  a  consequent  in- 
crease in  the  value  of  property  in  that 
neighborhood,  would  seem  to  justify  a 
special  effort  to  hold  the  field  against 
a  greater  day  of  prospertity.  The  cut 
shows  the  building  freshened  up  with 
a  new  coat  of  paint,  and  other  im- 
provements. 


Deacon    Allen    McClain 

ALLEN   M'CLAIN. 

Allen  McClain  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.,  May  4th,  1823.  Joseph 
and  Mary  McClain,  his  parents,  mov- 
ed to  Bethel,  Ohio,  when  he  was  four 
years  old.  He  came  to  this  state  in 
1833,  and  settled  in  Edgar  County,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  and  his  brother  Dudley 
and  brother-in-law  Elder  G.  W.  Riley 
worked  at  the  cabinet  makers'  trade. 
In  1864  he  located  in  Urbana,  where 


80 


he  continued  to  reside  till  his  death, 
November  28th,  1899.  He  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Busey,  January  28th, 
1864.  He  professed  conversion  in 
1848,  and  was  baptised  the  same  year 
by  his  Brother-in-law  Elder  G.  W. 
Riley,  into  the  fellowship  of  the  old 
Bloomfleld  Baptist  church.  He  gave 
himself  to  church  work  from  the  time 
he  was  20  years  old.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  familiar  figures  in  the  Ur- 
bana  church  for  many  years.  He  was 
a  man  of  strong  will,  but  pessimistic 
at  times.  He  believed  himself  called 
to  preach  the  gospel,  and  recited  his 
evidences  of  it  oftimes  to  his  friends, 
and  in  the  experience  meetings  of  the 
church,  and  to  his  Pastor  Elder  Shott. 

February  14th,  1883,  the  Pastor  ad- 
vised the  church  to  license  Deacon 
Allen  McClain  to  preach  the  gospel, 
which  the  church  did  by  a  unanimous 
vote,  and  Deacon  McClain  took  charge 
of  the  Centennial  work. 

Several  meetings  of  special  interest 


were  held  at  Centennial  with  good  re- 
sults, and  quite  a  number  united  with 
the  First  church  as  a  result  of  the 
work  done  there.  His  home  was  al- 
ways open  to  the  preachers,  and  was 
often  the  scene  of  hospitality.  His 
table  was  always  well  loaded,  and  his 
guests  urged  to  partake  liberally  of 
~is  bounty. 

His  residence  was  between  the 
Twin  Cities,  and  he  had  many  ac- 
quaintances in  Champaign  as  well  as 
in  Urbana.  In  1883  he  took  letters  for 
himself  and  family  to  the  Champaign 
Baptist  church,  where  he  continued  to 
attend  church  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  in  November  28th,  1899. 

The  Historical  Committee  is  delight- 
ed to  be  able  to  present  such  a  fine 
cut  of  his  patrichal  face,  and  splendid 
beard.  The  men  of  his  times  are  fast 
passing  away.  Only  a  few  of  the  Old 
Guard  are  left  to  tell  the  story  of  the 
early  days. 

"The  old  order  changeth." 


HERALD    OF    HOPE 

"  Ye   Christian   Heralds   go  proclaim 

Salvation  sent  in  Jesus'  name." 
"Now   faith    is   the   substance   of  things   hoped   for." 


Herald   of    Hope. 

In  the  summer  of  1909  the  mission- 
ary committee  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Urbana,  composed  of  Rev. 
R.  V.  Meigs,  F.  C.  Hubbard  and  J.  S. 
Hall,  drove  over  that  part  of  Urbana 
lying  north  of  the  Big  Four  railroad 
to  see  the  needs  of  that  field. 

They  found  no  church  or  Sunday 
school  north  of  the  track.  More  than 
1,000  people  were  living  in  the  north- 
west part  of  Urbana,  and  among  them 
many  children. 

The  committee  was  unanimous  in 
feeling  that  something  ought  to  be 
done. 

In    October    following,    Rev.    Meigs 


was  in  attendance  at  the  state  con- 
vention at  Galesburg.  He  telegraphed 
F.  C.  Hubbard  that  the  chapel  car, 
"Herald  of  Hope,"  Rev.  Sparks  and 
wife  in  charge,  would  be  in  Cham- 
paign the  next  Saturday,  and  to  make 
arrangements  to  sidetrack  in  Urbana. 
Visit  of  the  Chapel  Car. 

Arrangements  were  made  to  place 
the  car  on  side  track  put  in  at  Ro- 
mine  street.  Meetings  opened  in  the 
chapel  car,  Sunday,  October  24th, 
1909. 

From  the  first  success  attended  all 
meetings.  Meetings  were  held  every 
night  and  a  Sunday  school  was  organ- 
ized, and  held  at  9:30  a.  m.  each  Sun- 
day, and  preaching  at  11  a.  m.  and  at 


81 


7:30  p.  m.  The  Sunday  school  start- 
ed with  43,  and  increased  to  73.  A 
Junior  C.  B.  soon  had  a  membership 
of  fifty.  The  car  remained  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1910.  The  last  few  weeks 
Rev.  Sparks  and  helpers  solicited  sub- 
scriptions for  a  new  building.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  M.  D.  Busey  offered  to  give 
a  lot  east  of  the  Hays  school  build- 
ing. Rev.  Sparks,  feeling  that  the 
corner  lot,  where  the  church  now 
stands,  would  be  a  better  location, 
he,  with  Mr.  Busey,  asked  Mrs.  Sim 
to  give  the  lot,  which  she  most 
cheerfully  did,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Busey 
giving  their  lot  for  a  parsonage.  Sub- 
scriptions were  taken  for  nearly 
$3,100.  Two-thirds  of  this  amount  was 
given  by  members  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church. 

The  matter  was  laid  before  the 
board  of  deacons,  and  it  recommend- 
ed the  church  to  carry  forward  the 
work  and  appoint  a  building  commit- 
tee, which  the  church  did,  appointing 
J.  S.  Hall,  chairman;  F.  C.  Hubbard, 
secretary  and  treasurer;  M.  D.  Busey, 
W.  R.  Courtney,  J.  J.  Johnson,  How- 
ard Woodworth. 

June  30th,  1910,  the  corner  stone 
was  laid  by  Brother  Dunham,  who 
donated  it.  Rev.  J.  W.  Primm  led  in 
prayer,  and  Dr.  E.  B.  Rogers  delivered 
an  address.  The  first  service  of 
prayer  was  held  in  the  new  building 
August  10th,  and  the  dedication  took 
place  the  23d  day  of  October.  Sub- 
scriptions were  taken  on  dedication 
to  cover  all  indebtedness,  but  did  not 
cover  the  heating.  The  pastor,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Primm,  Dr.  Brand,  Rev.  Sparks 
and  Rev.  Meigs,  conducted  the  dedica- 
tion exercises. 

School  Building  Used. 
After  the  chapel  car  left,  through 
permission  of  the  school  board  of  Ur- 
bana,  the  use  of  the  Hays  school 
building  was  granted  for  meetings 
and  Sunday  school  until  the  church 


building  was  completed. 

E.  H.  Renner  of  Urbana  furnished 
the  chairs  without  rent  until  those 
purchased  arrived.  Rev.  J.  W.  Primm 
was  employed  to  preach  and  help  in- 
the  work. 

A  Sunday  school  was  organized  in 
the  school  house  with  Mr.  Stephens 
as  superintendent.  The  work  grew  in 
interest  and  numbers  until  the  church 
building  was  ready  for  use.  After 
the  dedication  of  the  church  the  work 
took  on  new  life  under  the  leadership 
of  the  pastor. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Primm  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  Herald  of  Hope  Mission 
February  9,  1910.  In  the  winter  of 
1910-11  several  services  resulted  in 
a  number  of  conversions  and  addi- 
tions to  the  church.  In  the  summer 
of  1911,  one  obstacle  after  another 
arising,  Rev.  Primm  and  others  be- 
came discouraged  and  it  was  seen 
that  a  change  must  be  made.  Through 
the  efforts  of  F.  C.  Hubbard,  Rev.  Ed- 
gar Woolhouse  and  wife,  who  had 
been  in  a  similar  work  at  South  Dan- 
ville and  Grape  Greek,  were  secured 
to  take  up  the  work,  Mr.  Hubbard 
standing  security  for  their  support. 
They  entered  upon  the  work  October 
1,  1911,  Rev.  Woolhouse  continuing 
his  work  a  part  of  the  time  near  Dan- 
ville. They  proved  to  be  the  right 
persons. 

Progress    of    Movement. 

By  their  wise  methods  and  very 
earnest,  constant  and  untiring  work 
the  field  was  developed  and  interest 
increased  until  at  the  end  of  the  year, 
October  1,  1912,  the  Sunday  school 
had  over  100  members,  a  young  peo- 
ple's union,  very  prosperous  prayer 
meetings  well  attended  and  full  of  in- 
terest, the  people  united  and  ready  to 
work  and  all  bills  paid  or  provided 
for.  Since  that  time  it  has  been 
thought  best  that  an  independent  or- 
ganization be  effected. 


82 


Herald  of  Hope 

To    this    end    Rev.    Woolhouse    and  each   one   making   a   subscription    for 

wife    canvassed    the    field    and    found  support.     Letters   have   been   granted 

about  70  persons  ready  to  go  into  the  to  these  from  the  First  Church, 
new  organization  as  charter  members, 


Ater,  Mr. 
Ater,  Mrs. 
Applegate,    Myrtle. 
Beeby,  Rev.  W.  H. 
Beeby,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Beeby,  Ruth. 
Beeby,   Lois. 
Beeby,  Nellie. 
Beeby,  Florence. 
Benedict,  Mrs. 
Blue,  J.  P. 
Courtney.  William. 
Davis,  Miss  Nellie. 
Durman,  Benjamin. 
Davidson,  Mrs.  John. 
Davidson,   John. 
Farrow,  Rill  a. 
Hawk,  Russell. 
Hawk,  Frank. 
Kerrigan,   Mary. 
Kerrigan,   J.   W. 
Kerrigan,  Mrs.  Celia. 
Hill,  Edward. 
Hill,  Mrs.  Mary. 


Howard,  William. 
Howard,  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Johnson,  James  J. 
Johnson,   Mrs.  Edith. 
Kinnear,  S.  D. 
Kinnear,  Mrs.  Anna. 
Koch,    Florence. 
Koch,  Edna. 
Koch,  Lloyd. 
Koch,   Mrs.    Florence. 
King,  Mrs.  Anna. 
Kesler,  Lola. 

Lee,  Mrs.  Lillian. 
Lemmon.  Susie. 
Mechling,  L.  M. 
Mechling,  Mrs.  L.  M. 
McClain,  C.  F. 
McClain,  Mrs.  C.  F. 
McClain,  Lena. 
McClain,  Vivian. 
Merrick,  Mrs.  Harry. 

Merrick,  Harry. 

Martin,  Elmer. 


Martin,  J.  L. 
McFarland,  B.  T. 
Parris,   Hazel. 
Shaw,  Earl. 
Sturkins,  James. 
Sturkins,  Mrs.  James. 
Smith,  George. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Sue. 
Smith,  Paul. 
Smith,    Margaret. 
Shafer,  Mrs.  Flora. 
Walker,  Mrs.  H.  E. 
Walker,  H.  E. 
Walker,  Staunton. 
Wagner,  Viola. 
Wascher,  Frank. 
Wascher,  Mrs.  Frank. 
Woolhouse,  Lolela. 
Woolhouse,  Rev.  E. 
Woolhouse,  Mrs.  E. 
Woolhouse,  Jennie. 
Woolhouse,  Dwight. 


83 


Members  added  to  Herald  of  Hope  Church    since    the    organization: 


From  First  Church,  Urbana. 


Bailey,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Benedict,    Bertha. 
Framm,   Wallace. 
King,  Mrs.  Emma. 
Mitchell,   Mrs.  Erne. 

Carlock,  Robert. 
Parris,  Charles. 
Ray,  Mrs.  Laura. 


Moore,  Mrs.  Lou. 
Parnell,  Guy. 
Richardson,  W.  B. 


Shaw,  Willie. 
Stevens,  R.  H. 
Surbaugh,  Ida. 


Richardson,   Mrs.  W.  B.     Surbaugh,   Charlie. 


From    Other    Sources. 

Snyder,  Mrs.  E.  M. 
Susdorf,  Mrs.  Elsie. 
Traxler,  Mrs.   Eva. 
Traxler,  Ellen. 


Traxler,  Ivan. 
Traxler,  Dolly. 
Walworth,  Edward. 


Miss  Nora  Walti  of  East  Urbana 
has  been  a  constant  worker  since  the 
start.  'She  has  served  as  teacher,  su- 
perintendent of  Sunday  school,  presi- 
dent of  Young  People's  society,  super- 
intendent^of  the  primary,  and  as 
church  treasurer.  The  First  Church 
has  stood  by  this  work  faithfully. 
Business  men  and  citizens  of  the  two 
cities  have  been  most  liberal  and  en- 
couraging. 

The  Herald  of  Hope  mission  was 
formally  organized  as  a  regular  Bap- 
tist church  with  Rev.  Edgar  Wool- 
house  as  pastor,  and  with  deacons, 
trustees,  clerk,  treasurer,  superin- 
tendent and  ushers,  Dec.  15,  1912. 

George  F.  Righter  of  Champaign, 
and  moderator  of  the  Bloomfteld  as- 
sociation, was  invited  to  preside  dur- 
ing the  organization.  He  made  con- 
gratulatory remarks  in  the  opening 
of  the  meeting  and  introduced  happy 
references  through  the  various  parts 
of  the  program. 

While  the  motion  to  call  Rev. 
Woolhouse  was  preceding,  Mr.  J.  S. 
Hall,  who  has  been  identified  with 
this  work  from  the  beginning  brought 
the  felicitations  from  the  First 
church,  and  highly  recommended  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Woolhouse  as  in  every  way 
adapted  to  the  work.  Mr.  Hall  and 
Fred  C.  Hubbard  have  been  closely 
identified  with  the  enterprise  from 
the  beginning  and  will  continue  their 


support  and  sympathy. 

Rev.  Dr.  Steadman,  a  former  pas- 
tor of  the  First  Church,  made  the 
first  address  to  the  new  organization, 
urging  unity  and  peace.  Rev.  M.  S. 
Bryant,  pastor  of  the  University  Bap- 
tist church,  gave  a  very  helpful  expo- 
sition of  scripture,  urging  the  mission 
of  the  new  church  and  brought  con- 
gratulations. 

Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  pastor  of  the 
First  church,  made  an  appeal  to  each 
officer  to  hold  up  high  standards  from 
the  first.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Woolhouse 
were  called  out  and  made  replies  ex- 
pressing their  gratitude  to  the  friends 
who  have  helped  to  make  the"  enter- 
prise successful. 

The  pulpit  of  the  old  historic  First 
church  was  given  to  this  church  and 
graces  the  platform  in  dignified  si- 
lence, and  yet  it  has  its  message  from 
the  past  to  the  present. 

Officers  of  Herald  of  Hope  elected 
were  as  follows:  Deacons,  John  Her- 
rigan,  three  years;  J.  P.  Blue,  two 
years;  Frank  Wascher,  one  year. 

Trustees — William  Courtney,  three 
years;  John  Davidson,  two  years; 
Lloyd  Koch,  one  year. 

Clerk— H.  E.  Walker. 

Treasurer — -Frank  Wascher. 

Sunday  School  Superintendent — 
William  Courtney. 

Assistant — Harry  Merrick. 

Chorister — Edward  Walworth. 

Head    Usher — Stanton    Walker. 


84 


Financial  report  of  Herald  of  Hope 
Church  from  December  15th,  1912,  to 
August  1st,  1913: 

Platform    10.00 

Janitor's    Salary    30.00 

Lighting   20.00 

Coal    45.00 

Repairs  of  Sunday  School 50.00 

Expense  of  meetings 20.00 

Salary  of  Pastor $358.00 

Sunday  School  Expenses....  79.00 


Total $612.00 

Rev.   Edgar  Woolhouse. 


Rev.  Edgar  Woolhouse  was  born 
October  19th,  1871,  in  Laurens,  New 
York.  His  parents  were  of  New  En- 
gland stock — German  and  English  in 
descent.  He  was  concerted,  and  bap- 
tized in  Oneonta,  N.  Y.,  February, 
1894,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C. 
C.  Pierce.  He  is  a  graduate  of  North- 
field,  and  did  this  work  after  his 
marriage.  He  also  attended  Colgate 


Seminary  for  a  brief  time,  and  then 
went  to  Colorado  Springs,  where  for 
a  short  time  he  took  advantage  of 
the  Colorado  College.  He  then  be- 
came Home  Mission  Pastor  under  the 
Board,  at  Mosca,  Colorado,  which 
church  ordained  him  June  9th,  1902. 
He  next  organized  the  First  Baptist 
church  at  Alamosa,  and  raised  the 
money  for  a  new  building.  October 
1st  he  moved  into  Iowa,  and  on  De- 
cember 1st,  1903,  we  find  him  building 
a  church  at  Sigourney.  October  1, 
1905,  he  is  in  Watertown,  111.,  where  he 
had  baptisms  every  quarter,  using  the 
Mississippi  river  as  a  baptistry.  Next 
he  organized  and  built  a  church  at 
Silvis,  a  suburb  of  Moline,  111.  While 
at  Watertown,  in  eight  months,  he 
collected  $6,000  for  a  new  building, 
and  on  his  last  night  there,  burned 
the  last  remnant  of  evidence  of  debt. 
Thence  he  moved  to  Lorain,  Ohio, 
where  he  organized  the  Trinity  Bap- 
tist church.  Thence  he  moved  to 
Danville,  where  in  one  year  he  erect- 


85 


ed  two  substantial  church  houses.  He 
is  indefatigable  in  his  labors,  and  has 
rare  gifts  along  unusual  lines  much 
needed  in  the  earlier  history  of  church 
organizations.  His  wife  ably  assists 
him  in  all  departments,  whether  it  be 
in  the  pulpit,  or  in  the  homes  of  the 
people.  The  history  of  his  rapid  and 
successful  movements  are  told  in  de- 
tail under  history  of  Herald  of  Hope, 
Cunningham  Avenue,  and  Centennial. 


Mrs.  Edgar  Woolhouse. 
At  Oneonta,  New  York,  September 
1,  1876,  was  born  this  most  excellent 
helpmeet  for  a  pastor.  At  the  age  of 
14  she  accepted  Christ  as  her  personal 
Savior,  and  began  work  in  earnest  for 
him.  She  was  baptized  October  4th, 
1891.  She  was  married  to  Rev.  Edgar 
Woolhouse,  Nov.  28th,  1894.  Side 
by  side  she  has  worked  with  her  hus- 


band during  their  days  of  preparation 
at  Mt.  Hermon,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
the  first  married  student  who  ever 
matriculated  in  the  institution.  Sick- 
ness, and  breakdowns  have  been  hero- 
ically met,  both  in  the  east  and  while 
they  were  sojourning  in  the  west. 

Gradually,  Mrs.  Woolhouse  had  to 
assume  larger  and  larger  responsi- 
bilities until  she  finds  herself  in  the 
pulpit,  preaching  to  help  her  husband, 
while  he  works  some  needy  field  in  the 
neighborhood.  God  has  owned  her  la- 
bors in  soul  winning,  and  given  many 
evidences  of  approval  of  her  work. 

It  is  fitting  that  as  they  work  side 
by  side  in  their  pastorate,  that  you 
should  see  them  side  by  side  while 
you  read  this  tribute  to  their  work, 
and  worth.  They  are  rearing  a  de- 
lightful family  who  are  fast  coming 
into  useful  Christian  service. 


CUNNINGHAM     AVENUE    CHURCH. 


Erected  1912 


"And   the   tabernacle    shall    oe   sanctified   by   my   glory." 


Rev.  Edgar  Woolhouse  discovered 
the  needs,  and  possibilities  of  a  good 
work  in  the  brickyard  neighborhood, 
and  began  prayer  meetings  in  private 
houses,  October,  1912,  and  the  inter- 


est increased  from  the  start.  On  De- 
cember 8,  1912,  a  lot  was  bought  from 
Miss  Nelle  Hubbard  at  $250,  on  Cun- 
ningham avenue,  and  Rev.  Woolhouse 
was  authorized  by  the  First  Church  to 


86 


secure  funds  to  pay  for  the  lot,  and 
also  to  erect  a  tabernacle.  In  the  in- 
credibly short  space  of  eight  weeks 
this  was  accomplished.  On  Sunday 
afternoon,  December  22nd,  1912,  a 
congregation  that  taxed  the  capacity 
of  the  new  building,  gathered  to  en- 
joy the  dedication  services.  Rev.  W. 
H.  Steadman,  D.D.,  presided,  Rev.  Dr. 
D.  O.  Hopkins  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Champaign,  read  the  scrip- 
tures, and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting 
offered  the  prayer  of  dedication.  Rev. 
M.  S.  Bryant,  Pastor  of  the  University 
Baptist  Church,  led  in  prayer.  George 
F.  Righter,  Moderator  of  the  Bloom - 
field  Association,  and  others,  made 
addresses.  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Urbana, 
preached  the  dedication  sermon  from 
Rev.  11:1,  after  which  he  engineered 
a  collection,  in  cash,  and  pledges 
which  proved  to  be  sufficient  to  pay 
all  bills  to  date. 

On  the  day  of  organization  Miss 
Nelle  Hubbard,  who  has  taken  spe- 
cial interest  in  this  Mission,  was 
elected  Sunday  School  Superintend- 
ent, which  office  she  has  held  with 
faithful  regularity  till  now,  often  re- 
maining to  the  Sabbath  evening  ser- 
vices to  act  as  Organist. 

Shortly  after  the  dedication,  Pastor 
Woolhouse  conducted  a  special  meet- 
ing, which  resulted  in  the  conversion 
of  35  people.  It  became  a  serious 
question,  owing  to  the  great  distance 
from  the  First  Church,  and  Herald  of 
Hope,  as  to  what  to  do  with  these  new 
converts.  It  soon  became  evident  that 
an  independent  organization  was  the 
only  solution  to  the  difficulty. 

Brother  Woolhouse  was  advised  to 
baptise  all  converts  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  Herald  of  Hope  Church, 
and  then  letter  them  at  such  time  as 
was  best  to  effect  an  organization  at 
Cunningham  Avenue.  Accordingly, 
the  First  Church  passed  a  motion  fa- 


Miss    Nelle    Hubbard 

vorable  to  organization,  and  in  13 
weeks  after  the  first  prayer  meeting 
in  that  district,  the  Tabernacle  was 
filled  to  witness  the  organization  of 
this  new  church.  Letters  to  the  num- 
ber of  34,  mostly  the  new  converts 
that  had  joined  Herald  of  Hope 
Church,  with  one  from  the  First 
Church,  were  presented,  and  an  or- 
ganization effected.  Inspirational  and 
congratulatory  addresses  were  then 
made  by  Drs.  Steadman  and  Hopkins, 
and  Brethren  M.  S.  Bryant  and  G.  M. 
Shott.  Dr.  Steadman  called  out  the 
following  persons  from  the  audience, 
and  all  spoke  words  of  encourage- 
ment and  inspiration.  N.  A.  Riley, 
W.  H.  Kerrigan,  Mrs.  Edgar  Wool- 
house,  Miss  Nelle  Hubbard,  and  many 
others.  Rev.  Edgar  Woolhouse  was 
unanimously  called  as  Pastor  of  the 
new  church,  with  the  idea  that  he  is 
to  give  such  time  as  he  can,  in  con- 
nection with  his  work  at  Herald  of 


87 


Hope,  and  the  Centennial  Church.  The 
following  are  the  officers  of  the  new 
body: 

Pastor — Rev.   Edgar   Woolhouse. 

Clerk — Everett  Lee. 

Treasurer — Mrs.  E.  C.  Hotchkiss. 

Deacon — John  Smith. 

Deacon — Daniel  Grimes. 

S.  S.  Supt.— Miss  Nelle  Hubbard. 

Trustees — David  Lee,  Willard  Sal- 
yers,  William  Bevis. 

The  Church  was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  the  state  in  June,  1913, 
and  the  deed  of  the  property  was 
made  in  trust  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
Cunningham  Avenue  Baptist  church, 
with  a  clause  saying  if  it  ever  ceases 
to  be  used  for  Baptist  purposes,  it 
will  revert  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  for  city  mission 
work. 

The  following  are  the  statistics  of 
this  young  church.  Additions  by  bap- 
tism, 2;  by  letter,  31;  total,  33.  Death, 
1;  present  membership,  32. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  $700. 
Home  expenses  have  teen  $542.86;  to 


Foreign  Missions,  $2.37;  to  Home 
Missions,  $2.37;  to  Publication  Soci- 
ety, $3.69.  Total  money  raised  for  all 
purposes,  $551.29. 

Sunday    School. 

Officers  and  teachers,  8;  scholars, 
70;  average  attendance,  55.  Expens- 
es of  the  school,  $16;  for  missions, 
$5.45.  Total,  $21.45. 

A  Baptist  Young  People's  Society 
has  also  been  organized. 

Unusually  interesting  services  have 
been  held  by  the  Young  People's  So- 
.iety.  The  young  people  are  showing 
a  growing  interest  in  this  work  and 
the  signs  are  hopeful  for  still  better 
work. 

June  19th,  the  church  in- 
structed the  clerk  to  call  a  council  to 
convene  in  the  First  Church,  Septem- 
ber 8th,  in  connection  with  the  Bloom- 
field  Association,  to  consider  the  rec- 
ognition of  the  Church  as  a  member 
of  the  Bloomfield  Association.  The 
University  Baptist  Church  will  call 
the  same  council  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, as  also  Herald  of  Hope. 


Cunningham  Avenue  Membership. 


Albertson,  Fay. 
Bemiss,  George. 
Bemiss,  Mrs.   M.   O. 
Bemiss,  Eliza. 
Bemiss,   Phoebe. 
Brown,   Harry. 
Brown,  Zora. 
Coopernell,   Lena. 
Ebert,  Ora. 
Ebert,  Earl. 
Grimes,  Daniel. 


Hotchkiss,  Mrs.  E. 
Hotchkiss,   lona. 
Hotchkiss,  Parris. 
Lee,  David. 
Lee,  Mrs.  David. 
Lee,   Everett. 
Lee,  Mrs.  Lillian. 
Lee,  George. 
Moore,  Mrs.  Edith. 
Morehead,   Mrs.   Ethel. 
Price,  Ella. 


Rayburn,  Mrs. 
Salyers,  Mrs.  Willard. 
Salyers,  Willard. 
Shepherd,  Ethel. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,   Mrs.   Lottie. 
Smith,  Venia. 
Smith,  Marie. 
Smith,  Oma. 
Tipton,   Mrs.   Charles. 
Watson,   Mrs.   Maud. 


New    Fields. 


The  First  Church  is  doing  all  that 
its  present  strength  will  admit,  but  as 
the  spiritual  life  grows,  and  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  increases,  there  are  sev- 
eral new  fields  where  work  ought  to 


be  done.  Large  areas  in  our  neighbor- 
hood where  there  is  no  church  of  any 
kind.  Population  and  price  of  land  are 
increasing  faster  than  the  progress  of 
our  work.  -.. 


88 

CHAPTER  XIII 
OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS 

MUSIC 


Sing,    whore    the    full-toned    organ 
Resounds  through  aisle  and  nave, 
And   the  choral   praise  ascendeth 
In   concord   sweet   and   grave." 


MUSIC 


A  choir  is  considered  a  very  im- 
portant part  of  the  organization  of 
every  church.  The  choir  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  being  next  to  the  Sunday  School, 
the  oldest  organization  in  the  church, 
and  also  the  unique  history  of  75 
years  of  service  with  but  three  lead- 
ers. Robert  Slater,  an  exemplary, 
and  god-fearing  man,  was  the  first 
leader,  and  led  the  singing  with  great 
acceptance  to  the  church.  N.  A.  Riley, 
son  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Riley,  was  the  sec- 
ond choir  leader  of  the  church,  begin- 
ning in  1865,  and  continuing  till  Sep- 


Robert  Slater. 


N.    A.    Riley 

tember  13th,  1889,  a  period  of  24 
years.  The  third  leader  is  George  M. 
Bennett,,  continuing  from  September 
13th,  1889,  to  this  day.  All  of  these 
directors  have  used  our  own  people 
entirely,  and  few  churches  have  been 
blessed  with  such  a  high  class  choir 
membership,  and  music  of  so  high  an 
order  rendered.  Director  and  mem- 
bers throughout  have  contributed 
their  services  all  these  seventy-five 
years.  For  years  the  music-loving  peo- 
ple of  Urbana,  Champaign,  and  the 
community,  have  looked  forward  to 
the  annual  song  service  of  this  noted 
choir,  as  one  of  the  musical  treats  of 


89 


George  M.  Bennett 

the  year.  It  is  much  to  the  tact,  and 
management  of  these  leaders  that 
there  has  never  been  a  choir  trouble 
making  more  discord  than  harmony  in 
the  church.  The  following  served  as 
members  of  the  choir  during  the  term 
of  N.  A.  Riley:  George  M.  Bennett, 
E.  M.  Knowlton,  L.  A.  McLean,  Ed- 
gar Lanham,  George  Hubbard,  Mrs. 
T.  F.  Fugate,  Mrs.  Flora  Hollister, 
Mrs.  Alice  Drury,  Mrs.  Augusta  Mor- 
gan, Mrs.  G.  M.  Bennett,  Miss  Bettie 
McKinzie,  Mrs.  Amelia  Richards. 

The  organists  of  the  church  have 
been  as  follows:  Mrs.  Susan  Day, 
Mrs.  Fannie  Dicken,  Mrs.  Anna  Busey, 
Miss  Rose  Lanham,  Mrs.  Emma  Ben- 
nett, and  Mrs.  Claude  A.  Binyon. 
Prof.  F.  L.  Lawrence,  C.  H.  Mills, 
Lloyd  Morey.  Each  for  their  time  of 
service  was  the  very  best  and  most 
faithful. 

Many  people  who  came  into  the 
church  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time 


received  first,  and  most  lasting  im- 
pressins  of  music,  from  the  musicians 
that  have  served  this  church.  While 
the  present  choir  is  one  of  the  fore- 
most south  of  Chicago,  and  is  not  to 
be  compared  with  any  other,  yet  it 
must  be  remembered  that  each  choir 
in  its  time  in  this  church  was  of  the 
same  high  order,  the  best  that  the 
times  could  afford. 

On  the  voluntary  retirement  of 
Brother  Riley  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  unanimously  adopted: 
"Whereas,  our  esteemed  and  beloved 
Brother  N.  A.  Riley  has  faithfully 
served  this  church  as  chorister  for  the 
past  24  years,  and  that  during  tha; 
long  period  he  has  so  managed  mat- 
ters that  there  has  never  occurred 
such  a  thing  as  a  "choir  fuss,"  and 
that  he  always  has  been  in  perfect 
harmony  with  the  different  pastors 
of  the  church. 

Further,  that  Brother  Riley  has  al- 
ways shown  a  Christian  spirit,  and 
by  his  excellent  leadership  and  sweet 
singing,  (especially  in  special  meet- 
ings) of  the  church,  he  has  largely 
contributed  in  bringing  souls  to  Christ 
therefore,  be  it  resolved:  That  while 
we  accept  the  resignation  of  Brother 
Riley  from  active  duties  of  his  office 
we  desire  to  express  our  appYeciatiou 
of  his  services  in  the  years  past,  re- 
membering that  he  was  punctual,  and 
always  faithful  in  all  his  church  du- 
ties. Also  that  he  gave  to  the  church 
his  best  years,  and  at  a  time  when 
it  needed  his  services  most.  That  we 
also  recognize  the  fact  that  he  has 
been  instrumental  through  the  abili- 
ties God  has  given  him,  in  doing 
much  toward  bringing  up  the  church 
from  small  numbers  to  its  present 
high  standing.  That  we  pray  that 
God's  blessing  may  rest  upon  him, 
and  that  the  recollection  of  his  past 
faithful  service  may  be  a  consolation 
to  him  in  the  years  to  come. 


90 


Pipe  Organ 


Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be 
spread  upon  our  minutes,  and  that  the 
same  be  published  in  the  Herald,  and 
a  copy  be  presented  to  Brother 
Riley." 

Brother  Riley  had  the  pleasure  of 
nominating  as  his  successor  Brother 
George  M.  Bennett,  who  has  led  the 
choir  from  that  day  to  this  with  high 
honor,  and  has  made  this  part  of  the 
worship  of  the  old  First  church  nota- 
ble far  and  wide.  He  will  lead  the 
grand  chorus  of  Thanksgiving  in  our 
Diamond  Jubilee  when  for  one  whole 
week  we  will  celebrate  our  75th  An- 
niversary. In  the  personnel  of  the 
choir  are  some  who  have  held  long 
terms  of  office  and  should  deserve 
special  mention  in  this  volume. 

Among  those  who  have  rendered  val- 
uable services  in  the  choir  in  the  last 
twenty-five  years  are  Misses  Opal 
and  Birdie  Heller,  Emma  and  Lillie 
Yanos,  Fannie  Dicken,  Rose  Lanham, 


Ella  Romine,  Flora  Ross,  Effie  Wright, 
Belle,  Marie,  Adelia  and  Clara  Ren- 
frew, Lucia  Hall,  Ombra  Herriott, 
Minnie  Franklin,  Anna,  and  Elizabeth 
Webber,  Harriet  Howe,  Anna  Riley, 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Thorpe,  Lulu  Gardner,  Stel- 
la Renfrew,  Leota  Parker,  Bessie 
Riggs,  Gladys  Beverlin,  Grace  Roney. 
The  gentlemen  with  good  choir  rec- 
ords are:  Edgar  Lanham,  George 
Hubbard,  Frank  Renfrew,  Clay  Web- 
ber, Carl  Van  Doren,  Charles  Thorpe, 
William  Schiff,  Ellis  Hall,  C.  G.  Hop- 
kins, Chester  Richards,  E.  G.  Dexter, 
Carlos  Renfrew,  Frank  Beebe,  Clinton 
Brown,  Joel  Coffee,  P.  K.  Miles,  S.  A. 
Rowland.  Edgar  Lanham  enjoy? 
the  distinction  of  having  entered  the 
choir  at  the  age  of  14  and  has  been 
in  the  choir  longer  than  any  one  now 
living  in  the  church,  and  while  this 
has  not  been  continuous  he  still  ag- 
gregates more  years  than  any  one 
else.  He  joined  the  choir  in  1879.  G. 


91 


M.  Bennett  is  next  in  length  of  years. 

During  Brother  Bennett's  time  of 
service,  on  December  3rd,  1902,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  raise  not 
less  than  $2,000  by  good  and  substan- 
tial subscriptions,  or  otherwise,  as 
they  see  fit,  for  the  purchase  of  a 
pipe  organ,  the  work  not  to  begin  till 
January,  1903,  and  to  be  finished  April 
1st,  1903,  subscriptions  .to  be  payable 
one-half  April  1st,  and  the  rest  July 
1st,  1903. 

The  committee  consisted  of  George 
M.  Bennett,  N.  A.  Riley,  William 
Schiff,  Mrs.  Anna  Frisinger,  and 
Chester  Richards.  April  8,  1903,  the 
Pipe  Organ  committee  made  a  re- 
port of  progress,  and  the  following 
resolution  was  passed  by  the  church: 
"Resolved,  That  the  same  committee 
be  continued  to  finish  up  the  organ 
finances,  and  that  said  committee  be 
authorized  to  contract  for,  purchase, 
and  install  in  the  church  a  new  pipe 
organ  on  the  best  terms  possible  at 
a  cost  not  exceeding  $3,000,  and  that 
the  committee  be  instructed  to  sell 
the  Knabe  Piano,  and  turn  in  the  pro- 
ceeds on  the  organ,  and  that  a  sub- 
conlniittee  with  an  expert  if  neces- 
sary, be  sent  to  Chicago  to  inspect 
the  propositions  offered,  if  they  think 
best." 

September  19th,  1903,  the  Pipe  Or- 
gan Committee  made  its  final  report, 
which  in  part  is  as  follows:  "The  or- 
gan cost  $3,000,  but  that  does  not  in- 
clude the  preparation  to  the  building 


to  receive  the  organ  which  is  $200,  to- 
gether with  a  change  in  the  roof  of 
the  building,  which  was  paid  for  by 
the  Organ  company."  Favorable 
mention  of  the  Ladies'  Extension  so- 
ciety, and  the  'Christian  Endeavor,  and 
Professor  Lawrence  of  the  University, 
who  furnished  the  plan  and  gave  ex- 
cellent advice  to  the  Committee  and 
various  others,  is  made,  and  the  re- 
port asks  for  the  discharge  of  the 
Committee  in  the  hope  "that  the  in- 
strument will  be  a  great  blessing  in 
the  worship  of  God,  that  its  beauti- 
ful tones  will  tend  to  make  the  ser- 
vices more  reverential  and  impres- 
sive, and  that  it  will  continue  to  serve 
the  high  purpose  for  which  it  was  in- 
stalled long  after  we  shall  be  gathered 
to  our  home  on  the  other  side." 

Fred  C.  Hubbard,  on  behalf  of  the 
Trustees,  accepted  the  organ,  and  the 
church  accepted  it  at  the  hands  of  the 
Trustees  by  a  rising  vote. 

Kindly  mention  was  made  of  Mrs. 
Emma  Bennett,  who  had  for  seven 
years  served  as  pianist  for  the  choir 
with  scarcely  an  absence.  The  thanks 
of  the  church  was  extended  to  her  as 
she  severed  her  connection  with  the 
choir. 

It  is  significant  that  for  12  years  from 
one  to  three  Webbers  and  one  to  three 
Renfrews  have  been  in  the  choir. 

"Sing  aloud, 

Old  songs,  the  precious  music  of  the 
heart." 

— Wordsworth. 


BAPTIST    MALE    QUARTET. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  F. 
Mills  a  quartet  was  organized  that 
was  an  invaluable  aid  to  all  Evangel- 
istic meetings,  funerals,  and  many 
other  special  as  well  as  regular  occa- 


sions. It  was  composed  of  George 
Bennett,  Edward  Lanham,  Clay  Web- 
ber and  Frank  Renfrew.  They  also 
filled  an  engagement  for  a  large  part 
of  a  Chautauqua  program.  They  are 
preserved  in  the  accompanying  cut. 


92 


Frank    Renfrew 
Edgar    Lanham 


Clay  Webber 
Geo.   M.   Bennett 


93 


Ladies'    Extension    Society. 


The  ladies  of  this  church  have  al- 
ways been  its  strong  supporters,  both 
financially  as  well  as  spiritually,  and 
proved  themselves  excellent  finan- 
ciers. 

In  1854  and  1855  many  carpenters 
contributed  work  on  the  old  church, 
and  the  ladies  furnished  the  dinner  in 
the  building.  In  185G,  the  ladies  had 
saved  up  enough  money  to  purchase  a 
tell,  it  being  the  same  that  now  hangs 
in  the  belfry,  and  was  the  first  church 
in  Central  Illinois  to  have  a  belfry. 

The  ladies  kept  up  their  organiza- 
tion, and  under  the  pastorate  of  the 
Rev.  W.  H.  Steadman,  D.D.,  named 
their  society  "The  Ladies'  Aid,"  which 
continued  for  over  seven  years,  until 
they  organized  under  the  Rev.  F.  J. 
Leavett  as  "Social  Workers.'  The  larg- 
est work  was  done  under  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills,  who  recog- 
nized the  strong  help  of  the  ladies, 
which  would  be  had  in  building  the 
new  church.  The  church  appointed 
Rev.  J.  F.  Mills  the  committee,  with 
power  to  call  to  his  aid  any  help  he 
thought  best,  so  he  organized  the  la- 
dies under  the  name  of  the  "Ladies' 
Extension  Society."  He  was  elected 
its  first  president,  and  the  ladies  sub- 
scribed $3,000  to  the  new  church, 
which  was  the  first  subscription  made. 
This  was  done  in  1894.  Rev.  Mills  was 
continued  as  president  of  the  society 


until  the  end  of  the  pastorate.  On  the 
day  the  church  was  dedicated,  the 
ladies  subscribed  $500  toward  the  pur- 
chase of  the  large  pipe  organ;  they 
also  purchased  the  furniture  for  the 
new  church,  and  also  paid  for  the  dec- 
orating of  the  same. 

After  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Mills, 
Mrs.  Fannie  Lewis,  and  Mrs.  Alice 
Freeman  served  as  presidents  of  the 
society,  and  were  succeeded  by  Mrs. 
L.  A.  McLean,  who  served  for  seven 
years,  and  in  1913  was  succeeded  by 
Mrs.  C.  L.  Van  Doren.  The  officers 
of  the  society  were  uniformally  ex- 
cellent workers,  and  the  society  was 
always  noted  for  the  strong,  financial 
help  it  contributed.  The  society  us- 
ually bore  the  incidental  expenses  of 
the  church  or  purchased  the  fuel,  be- 
sides purchasing  the  carpets,  decorat- 
ing the  church  when  it  needed  it.  One 
of  the  substantial  donations  made  by 
Mrs.  Artemesia  Busey,  a  member  of 
the  society,  was  $4,000  in  cash  for  the 
purchase  of  the  present  commodious 
parsonage,  worth  over  $7,000.  The 
church  sold  its  old  parsonage  and 
paid  the  difference. 

These  are  only  some  of  the  acts  of 
the  ladies  in  the  support  of  God's 
cause,  and  the  church  is,  and  always 
has  been  proud  of  the  ladies,  and 
their  self-sacrificing  work  for  the 
cause. 


WOMAN'S    MISSION    CIRCLE. 


The  Woman's  Baptist  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  Urbana,  was  organized  in  1876 
by  Mrs.  Franklin  Walker,  who  was  an 
aunt  of  Mrs.  L.  G.  Hubbard.  This 
was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W. 
H.  Steadman.  A  Young  Woman's 
Home  Mission  Circle  was  organized  in 
18S2  by  Mrs.  Kate  J.  Shott  during  the 
first  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott. 


This  was  consolidated  with  the  For- 
eign Society  in  188<3,  and  the  organiz- 
ation has  since  been  known  as  the 
Woman's  Baptist  Union  Missionary 
Sciety.  In  1892,  "The  What  I  Can 
(W.  I.  C.)  Society"  was  organized  un- 
der the  leadership  of  Mrs.  E.  S.  Hall, 
and  mainttained  for  a  period  of  three 
years.  A  "Baby  Band"  has  been  kept 


94 


up  at  different  times,  the  last  in  1909 
under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  E.  E. 
Dexter.  Among  the  active  members 
of  the  first  organization  of  the  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  were  Mrs. 
Franklin  Walker,  Mrs.  Amanda  Allen, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Gere,  Mrs.  Experience 
Walker,  Mrs.  Dr.  Fugate,  Mrs.  Allan 
McClain,  three  Mrs.  Cushman,  and 
Mrs.  Spencer.  Meetings  have  been 
held  regularly  the  first  Tuesday  in 
each  month. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  Mission 
Circle  it  was  difficult  to  create  an  in- 
terest to  any  great  extent  in  Foreign 
Missions.  Mrs.  John  Gere  more  than 


any  other  one,  perhaps,  carried  the 
work  on  her  heart,  and  was  ever  act- 
ive in  furthering  the  cause,  using 
much  time  in  distributing  missionary 
literature,  and  trying  to  secure  at- 
tendance at  the  meetings. 

The  table  of  officers  and  contribu- 
tions will  show  that  the  membership 
is  not  nearly  so  large  as  it  should  be, 
in  a  church  with  so  many  women  of 
the  age  usually  accepted  for  its  mem- 
bership. The  records  of  reports  and 
other  data  are  so  incomplete  that  only 
a  meager  idea  of  their  work  can  be 
published. 


There   is   no   material   for  a   report 
for  the  years  between  1876  and  1882, 
but   after   1882   the   material   is   more 
WOMAN'S    BAPTIST 


plentiful,  and  the  following  table  will 
show  as  far  as  figures  can,  the  result 
of  this  organization. 
MISSION   CIRCLE  TABLE. 


Year.       President. 
1876  Mrs.  W.  H.  Steadman 
1882  Mrs   Amanda  Allen.... 

Secretary. 
Mrs.   Amanda   Allen 

Mem  I 

8 

Home  [Foreign]  Total 

25  00                 25  00 
23  00|             |  23  00 
30  OOI                30  00 
25  50)  53  00    78  50 
7  00|  45  85    52  85 
4  251   35  00    39  25 
37  50|  20  00|   57  50 
29  69|   93  38  ]f23  07 
101  i38!  39  70|141  08 
29  70  1  29  70 
16  07J  23  00|   39  07 
47  04  |   36  35|  83  39 
7  32    19  73|  27  05 
14  25    25  98|   40  23 
20  25!  31  39|  51  64 
14  25)  25  321   39  57 
'26  64|  29  50|   56  14 
34'  50|   25  76|  60  25 
41  45    13  65  |   55  10 
32  29    21  75  |   54  04 
63  25    77  19J140  44 
26  00    27  00|  53  00 
>28  40    31  00|  59  40 
30  00|   26  00|   56  00 
30  00|  30  00|  60  00 
35  00    25  00|  60  00 
40  00    46  00|   86  00 
54  50    52  50|107  00 
50  00    37  00|  87  00 
69  00    47  OOJ116  00 
50  00    95  00|145  00 

313  53J1062  7412076  27 

36 

1883  Mrs.  John  Gere  

30 

1884  Mrs    John   Gere 

30 

1885  Mrs    John  Gere  iMrs.  Dr.  Fiie-ate 

21 

1886  Mrs.  L.  G.  Hubbard.... 
1887  Mrs.  L.  G.  Hubbard.... 
2888                               

Mrs.  Dr.  Fugate 

Mrs.  Dr.  Fugate 

29 

Mrs.  Jennie  McLean 

20 

1889  Mrs.  Harriet  Gere  
1890  Mrs.  Harriet  Gere  
1892  Mrs.  W.  B.  Webber.... 
1893                      

Miss  Ella  Hall  

22 

Miss  Ella  Hall  

Miss  Ella  Hall  

12 

Miss    Alice    Duff 

30 

1894                            

1895  Mrs.  W.  B.  Webber.... 

1896  Mrs.  J.  S.  Hall  

Mrs.  G    F.  Mills 

30 

1897  Mrs.  Margaret  Walke 
1897  Mrs.  M.  Walker  

Miss    Addie    Toy 

Miss  Lulu  Straight 

1898  Mrs.    M.    Walker  
1899  Mrs.    M.   Walker  
1900  Mrs.    M.    Walker  
1901  Mrs.  G.  A.  Walker.... 
1902  Mrs.  M.  L.  Rugg  

Miss  Lulu  Straight 

Mrs.   Jennie   McLean 

28 

Mrs.  W.  O.  Connor  

51 

Mrs.  W.  O.  Connor  

Mrs.  W.  O.  Connor 

1903  Mrs.  M.  L.  Rugg  
1904  Mrs.  M.  L.  Rugg  
1905  Mrs.  M.  Walker  

Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt  

44 

Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt  

34 

Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt 

84 

1906  Mrs.  J.  A.  Brwn  

Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt 

34 

1907  Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt  
1908  Mrs.  Nettie  Hunt  
1909  Mrs.  R.  S.  Kirkland.... 
1910  Mrs.  C.  L.  Van  Doren 
1911  Mrs.  C.  L.  Van  Doren 
1912  Mrs.  H  P  Stinespring 
1913  Mrs.  H  P  Stinespring 

Mrs.  W.  B.  Clark  

32 

Mrs.   W.  B.  Clark  

50 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Woolman  

54 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Woolman 

'58 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Woolman.  . 

57 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Woolman  

78 

Mrs.  Maud  Miller  

80 

|1 

95 


FIRST  CHURCH  AND  THE  UNIVERSITY 

"Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto  God." 


First  Baptist  Church,  Urbana,  and  the 
University. 


No  history  of  this  church  would  be 
complete  without  a  reference  to  this 
great  state  institution  of  learning. 
The  public  movements  which  gave 
rise  to  the  University  began  in  1850, 
though  the  principles  upon  which  it 
was  later  founded  had  been  long  be- 
fore the  American  people.  The  first 
convention  was  called  at  Granville, 
Illinois,  in  November,  1881,  and  from 
this  grew  several  later  conventions. 
In  January,  1865,  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors made  the  following  proposal  to 
the  Illinois  legislature:  "We  offer 
the  Urbana  and  Champaign  Institute 
Building,  the  College  grounds,  con- 
taining about  ten  acres,  also  blocks 
52  and  53,  of  the  seminary  addition 
to  Urbana,  together  with  the  appurt- 
enances thereto  belonging,  with  140 
acres  of  land  adjacent  thereto,  valued 
at  $160,000,  in  consideration  of  the 
permanent  location  of  the  Illinois  In- 
dustrial University  upon  the  said 
grounds."  After  prolonged  debate  the 
bill  passed  the  lower  house  accepting 
the  terms  and  locating  the  University 
in  Urbana.  This  naturally  aroused  a 
great  competition  in  other  quarters, 
and  the  people  became  very  active  in 
offering  inducements. 

The  Urbana  location  won,  and  the 
people  were  exhilarated  with  their 
triumph,  and  built  great  bonfires,  and 
opened  public  halls,  and  listened  to 
much  oratory  on  the  benefits  that 
were  sure  to  accrue  to  this  neighbor- 
hood, from  locating  the  University 
here.  The  conveyances  of  property 
were  made  May  8th,  1867.  John  M. 
Gregory,  L.L.D.,  was  elected  first  re- 
gent, and  to  him  more  than  to  any 


one  man,  Is  due  the  broad  policy  and 
magnificent  plans  that  underlie  the 
the  work  of  the  University.  When  he 
reported  his  outline  to  the  board  May 
8,  1867,  it  was  the  signal  for  all  sorts 
of  differences  of  opinion  and  criti- 
cisms. The  opening  of  the  University 
was  ordered  for  March  2,  1868.  Fifty 
students  enrolled  at  the  opening,  and 
the  end  of  the  first  session  of  the  Uni- 
versity found  the  number  of  students 
to  have  reached  seventy-seven.  The 
state  of  Illinois  has  made  constant, 
and  magnificent  gifts,  and  appropria- 
tions through  all  these  years,  so  that 
in  1878  the  value  of  property  was  es- 
timated to  be  at  least  $829,000.  Since 
that  time  the  University  has  had 
phenomenal  growth  in  equipment,  and 
in  enrollment.  There  are  thirty  fine, 
and  imposing  buildings  on  the 
Campus,  and  these  exclusive  of  equip- 
ment are  valued  at  $2,093.500. 

During  the  year  1911-12,  5,167  stu- 
dents were  enrolled,  and  the  Faculty, 
including  all  departments,  numbered 
about  600.  Probably  no  church  of  the 
27  within  the  Twin  Cities,  not  dis- 
tinctively organized  as  a  student 
church,  has  been  closer  to  the  life  of 
the  University,  than  the  First  Baptist 
church.  Many  of  her  young  people 
have  been  students,  and  some  have 
won  places  in  the  ranks  of  instruct- 
ors. Many  'have  received  University 
instruction  along  special  lines,  and 
are  out  among  the  world's  workers 
making  good.  During  all  these  years 
the  church  and  the  university  have 
grown  together.  The  church  is  sen- 
ior by  thirty  years,  but  the  last  45 
years  have  been  spent  "neck  and 
neck"  as  the  church,  and  University, 
have  forged  ahead. 

Part  of  the     excellent     speech     of 


96 


President  Draper  of  the  University  at 
the  dedication  of  this  new  church  is 
presented  in  these  pages  as  an  evi- 
dence of  the  good  will  existing  be- 
tween the  church  and  university. 
President  James  of  the  University 
will  be  asked  to  take  some  part  in  the 
celebration  of  our  75th  Anniversary, 
and  it  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  his 
message  cannot  be  given  in  this  book. 
For  some  years  there  has  been  a 
large  class  of  University  men  and  wo- 
men, in  connection  with  our  Bible 
school  in  this  church.  It  is  an  or- 
ganized class,  is  "co-ed,"  and  is  call- 
ed "Agoma,"  and  has  usually  been 
taught  by  a  professor  in  the  Universi- 
ty, but  at  present  it  is  taught  by  the 
pastor,  Rev.  Gideon  M.  Shott,  D.D. 
Gradually,  many  of  the  students  will 
learn  to  attend  the  University  Bap- 
tist church  under  the  excellent  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  M.  S.  Bryant,  and  yet 
there  will  never  be  a  time  when  there 
will  not  be  a  student  class  in  the 
church,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
are  already  members,  or  whose  pa- 
rents were  members,  and  will  prefer 
their  children  should  worship  and 
study  in  the  old  home  church.  This 
will  perpetuate  the  "Agoma"  class, 


and  help  to  keep  up  the  good  feeling 
that  has  always  existed  between  the 
two  institutions.  This  church,  almost 
above  any  other,  ought  to  present  to 
the  student  body,  living  its  four,  or 
more  years  here,  the  highest  spiritual 
standards.  It  should  be  the  aim  of 
the  church  to  set  up  proper  ideals  for 
the  students,  and  not  yield  itself  to 
the  natural  proclivities  of  youthful  de- 
sires, and  tendencies,  when  the  re- 
straints of  home  are  taken  away. 

It  should  be  the  aim  of  this  church 
to  see  to  it,  as  far  as  any  and  all  who 
ever  attend  the  church,  or  school, 
should  go  away  filled  with  the  high 
ideals  of  spiritual  life,  and  its  real  re- 
lations to  the  great  callings  for  which 
these  students  come  here  to  prepare. 
The  church  receives  them  under  its 
influences  at  the  time  when  they  are 
the  most  impressible,  and  when  many 
if  not  most  of  them  are  taking  higher 
ambitions,  and  seeking  wider  visions 
of  life.  They  are  making  new  ties  to 
take  the  place  of  those  at  home,  and 
it  should  be  the  aim  of  our  own 
young  people  to  set  before  these  stu- 
dents the  highest  images  of  religious 
life  and  morality. 


"Disputing'  daily  in  the 

This  church  is  in  a  peculiar  position 
to  show  the  student,  the  real  relation 
of  piety  to  every  day  life.  We  should 
create  an  atmosphere  of  real  spirit- 
ual life  for  the  benefit  of  all  students 
in  High  school  and  University  As  a 
matter  of  fact  the  organization  of  a 
special  church  for  Baptist  students 
has  no  special  connection  with  the 
organic  work  of  the  First  Church  and 
'yet  its  existence  interrelates  the 
two  bodies  in  close  sympathy.  A  Bap- 
tist Guild  called  the  Gregory  Guild 
was  maintained  by  the  Baptists  at  the 


school  of  one  Tyrannus." 
University  to  which  in  1908  our  Young 
People  contributed  $100.    It  was  aban- 
doned after  a  very  fair  test. 

The  First  church  had  been  looking 
after  a  large  number  of  Baptist  stu- 
dents as  far  as  class  work  and  young 
people's  work  was  concerned,  till  the 
State  Board  of  Missions  appointed 
Rev.  M.  S.  Bryant  to  take  charge  of  a 
work  for  Baptist  students  in  attend- 
ance upon  the  University.  Between  one 
and  five  hundred  Baptist  students, 
either  members  of  some  Baptist 
church,  or  Baptistically  inclined,  en- 


97 


roll   themselves   each   year   for  study 
in  the  University. 

Rev.  Bryant  secured  quarters  in  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  for  his  work,  and 
soon  organized  a  separate  Baptist 
church.  As  many  of  the  students  as 
were  willing  to  enter  upon  that  spe- 
cial work  were  interviewed,  and 
brought  their  letters.  About  30  to  35 
of  those  who  were  in  attendance  at 
the  First  church  changed  their  at- 
tendance from  the  First  Church.  This 
new  church  also  took  in  some  local 
citizens  who  living  near  the  Univer- 
sity, could  find  it  easier  to  attend  ser- 
vices there.  Accordingly,  the  First 
Church  gave  letters  to  the  following 
to  unite  with  the  University  Baptist 
church: 

Rev.  J.  W.  Primm,  Pauline  Primm, 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Primm,  Philip  Primm.  Paul 
Murdock,  G.  F.  Sutherland,  Uripides 


Fijardo,  Mrs.  Ella  Wright,  Francis 
Wright,  Helen  Wright. 

These,  though  not  many  in  num- 
ber, made  a  historic  connection  with 
that  body.  Since  the  organization 
Rev.  J.  W.  Primm  has  been  called  to 
his  reward  after  many  months  of  ted- 
ious suffering.  He  was  loved  and 
honored  for  his  high  moral  and  spirit- 
ual qualities,  as  well  as  for  his  ripe 
scholarly  attainments.  The  most  de- 
lightful fellowship  exists  between  the 
pastors  of  Urbana,  Champaign,  and 
Herald  of  Hope  churches,  with  Broth- 
er Bryant,  whose  fitness  for  this  stu- 
dent work  is  so  evident,  and  whose 
teaching  abilities  make  him  a  very 
helpful  factor  in  the  work  of  the 
Bloomfield  Association. 

Three  Baptist  churches  organized 
within  that  many  months  of  the  year 
1912!! 


RESOLUTIONS 

"I   am   resolved   what   to   do." 


RESOLUTIONS. 

The  passing  of  resolutions  by  the 
church  upon  the  recommendation  of 
Deacons  and  Pastor,  is  an  easy  mat- 
ter. Carrying  out  the  resolutions  im- 
partially and  faithfully  is  quite  an- 
other. While  all  these  resolutions  are 
aimed  to  correct  some  worldly,  or  sin- 
ful habit,  they  will  not  accomplish 
that  task  by  being  simply  recorded 
upon  the  minutes.  Any  failure  to 
carry  out  the  declarations  of  such 
resolutions  declares  to  the  member- 
ship, and  the  world  at  large  that  the 
authority  of  the  church  is  gone,  and 
the  officials  are  helpless,  and  the 
body  has  lost  its  power  of  self-gov- 
ernment. 

Most  of  these  resolutions  are  but 
modifications  of  the  by-laws  adopted 
in  our  "Star  Book,"  June  27th,  1883. 
All  questions  pertaining  to  popular 


amusements  are  included  in  the  reso- 
lutions in  the  back  pages  of  the  "Star 
Book.''  These  modifications,  and  re- 
iterations of  these  principles  go  to 
show  that  not  all  the  members  of  the 
church  have  lost  their  respect  for 
high  spiritual  ideals.  That  they  must 
be  repeated  with  such  desperate  fre- 
quency through  all  the  years  shows  a 
very  low  conception  of  sacred  obliga- 
tions on  the  part  of  many  who  claim 
membership.  Let  us  in  future  keep 
more  of  them  and  make  less. 

Monday,  April  6,  1885.  Resolved: 
"That  resident  and  non-resident 
members  who  fail  to  co-operate  with 
the  church,  either  by  their  presence 
or  letter,  for  the  space  of  one  year 
be  dropped  from  the  membership 
roll." 

March  27,  1889.  "Whereas,  a  gos- 
pel church  is  Christs  representative 
on  earth,  and  when  governed  by  his 


98 


laws,  and  controlled  by  his  spirit,  is 
opposed  to  all  worldly  alliances,  and 
can  accomplish  its  mission  only  as  it 
keeps  itself  "unspotted  from  the 
world,"  and 

Whereas,  to  a  great  extent,  it  is  the 
Christian  that  is  read  by  the  world  in- 
stead of  the  Bible,  and  as  the  Chris- 
tian separates  himself  from  the  world 
and  follows  the  Master,  to  the  same 
extent  he  honors  the  cause  and  ex- 
emplifies the  spirit  of  religion,  and 
builds  up  the  cause  of  Christ,  there- 
fore, be  it 

Resolved:  That  in  view  of  the  po- 
sition the  Christian  occupies  before 
the  world  as  a  follower  of  Christ,  and 
also  being  an  example  both  in  and  out 
of  the  church,  we  do  not  think  it  con- 
sistent for  a  member  of  this  church  to 
attend  balls,  card  parties,  or  other 
places  of  questionable  amusement. 
And  in  a  spirit  of  earnest  Christian 
charity  ask  those  of  our  members  who 
have  been  attending  such  places,  for 
the  sake  of  the  love  they  have  for  the 
Master,  and  the  honor  of  his  cause, 
that  they  refrain  from  doing  so  in  the 
future,  remembering  the  injunction  of 
the  Apostle,  "to  avoid  every  appear- 
ance of  evil." 

June  5th,  1889.  "That  the  church 
demand  of  every  member  that  he,  or 
she,  according  to  his,  or  her  covenant 
vows,  contribute  to  the  support  of  the 
church,  according  to  his,  or  her  abil- 
ity. 

Second,  "That  failure  to  assist  in 
defraying  church  expenses,  be  consid- 
ered a  sufficient  ground  for  disci- 
pline." 

Third,  "That  a  statement  of  the 
condition  of  the  church  be  read  be- 
tore  the  church  the  first  Sunday  in 
each  month." 

"Resolved,  That  every  non-resident 
member  be  required  to  correspond 
with  the  church  at  least,  once  a  year, 
and  to  contribute  something  to  its 


support  as  long  as  they  retain  their 
membership." 

January  3rd,  1894.  "Resolved,  That 
no  member  be  excluded  from  member- 
ship in  this  church  until  they  have 
been  visited  twice,  and  kindly  en- 
treated to  return  to  their  duty,  and 
allegiance  to  the  church,  and  shall 
have  had  a  thirty  days'  notice  from 
the  church  clerk  to  appear  and  an- 
swer to  the  charges  against  them, 
and  give  reasons  why  such  action 
should  not  be  taken." 

Resolved,  That  non-residents  be 
corresponded  with  twice  and  receive 
notice  from  the  clerk." 

September  5th,  1906,  "Resolved  that 
all  non-resident  members  who  have 
been  away  three  or  more  years  and 
who  do  not  answer  the  correspond- 
ence sent  by  the  church,  shall  be  no- 
tified and  if  nothing  is  heard  from 
them  in  thirty  days  after  such  notice 
is  sent  they  are  hereby  directed  to 
be  dropped  from  the  church  list." 

January  4th,  1911,  "That  the  names 
of  our  non-resident  members  whose 
address  is  not  known  after  efforts  to 
find  the  same,  be  placed  on  a  list  and 
may  be  carried  two  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  said  time  those  not  heard 
from  during  this  time  be  erased  from 
the  church  roll." 

June,  1858;,  |  "Resolved,  That  any 
members  who  absent  themselves  for 
three  successive  regular  meetings 
shall  be  looked  after  by  a  committee.'' 

It  is  significant  that  this  rule  has 
never  been  repealed. 

November  3,  1897.  "The  Board  of 
Deacons  recommend  that  a  circular 
letter  to  non-resident  members  be 
prepared,  urging  (1)  the  importance 
of  active  church  work;  (2)  of  uniting 
with  Baptist  churches  where  they 
now  live,  if  possible,  or  if  not,  of  com- 
municating with  this  church  at  least 
once  per  year  and  aiding  in  its  sup- 
port." These  circular  letters  were  to 


99 


be  sent  out  as  occasion  requires  at 
the  discretion  of  the  deacons. 

November  3,  1909.  "This  is  to  cer- 
tify that  Evangelist  Rev.  R.  S.  Kirk- 
land,  is  a  member  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  of  Urbana,  Illinois.  He 
has  the  respect  of  the  membership  of 
the  church.  As  an  evangelist  !his 
work  has  been  successful.  His  evan- 
gelistic efforts  are  along  safe,  and 
reasonable  interpretation  of  New 
Testament  doctrines,  and  we  wish  for 
him  the  largest  blessing  of  the  Lord." 

March  2,  1910.  "A  recommendation 
was  made  by  the  Trustees  that  all 
members  failing  to  contribute  toward 
the  support  of  the  church  for  a  pe- 
riod of  one  year  shall  at  the  option 
of  the  trustees  be  placed  on  a  delin- 
quent list."  The  recommendation 
was  adopted  by  the  church. 

July  5th,  1907.  "Whereas,  there 
seems  to  be  a  growing  inclination  to 
disregard  and  use  the  Lord's  day  for 


J.    W.    Cushmnn 


purely  secular  pleasure;  and  Where- 
as, it  is  reported  that  this  practice 
has  in  many  places  resulted  in  great- 
ly lessening  the  attendance  upon  di- 
vine worship  and  weakening  the  spir- 
ituality of  the  church  members,  and 
as  it  is  directly  opposed  both  in  let- 
ter and  in  spirit  to  the  teachings  of 
our  Saviour,  therefore:  Resolved, 
That  we,  the  Board  of  Deacons  of  the 
First  Baptist  church,  do  recommend 
that  the  church  enact  and  enforce  the 
following  rule.  No  member  shall  hold 
any  office  in  this  church,  or  teach  in 
its  Sunday  school,  who  attends  ball 
games,  theatres,  or  similar  shows  on 
Sunday.  No  Sunday  School,  Class,  or 
Society  picnics  shall  be  permitted  on 
Sunday." 

The  recommendation  was  laid  over 
for  one  month,  and  then  passed. 


First    Indoors    Baptistry. 

(Should  be  on  page  60). 

Soon  after  Elder  G.  M.  Shott  ac- 
cepted the  pastorate  of  the  church  it 
was  necessary  to  baptize  some  who 
had  been  admitted  for  the  ordinance. 
Being  in  delicate  health  he  refused  to 
administer  the  ordinance  in  the  open, 
and  J.  W.  Cushman  felt  impressed 
that  it  was  his  part  to  help  in  meet- 
ing this  emergency.  Accordingly, 
with  some  other  volunteer  help  he 
planned  the  first  indoor  baptistry  in 
the  history  of  the  church. 

Many  delightful,  and  touching 
scenes  were  witnessed  around  that  old 
baptistry.  The  magnificent  back- 
ground of  our  present  baptistry  may 
never  conceal  from  eyes  often  wet 
with  glad  tears,  that  first,  and  older 
burial  place.  There  may  not  be  an 
Apostolic  succession,  but  there  is  a 
succession  of  splendid  Baptisteries  by 
which  we  may  trace  the  history  of 
this  New  Testament  ordinance  from 
the  Jordan  in  the  time  of  Christ  till 
now. 


100 


CHURCH  MEMBERSHIP  TABLE 


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m              O 

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a 

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a. 

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a 

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a 

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>>   a 

y                      ~l        r- 

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2  i-i 

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X  <1> 

H  Q 


a 
e   ® 

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ffi  H 


H 


1851 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1850 
1861 
18G2 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 


30 
110 

220 


12 


15| 
25|  7 
14 1  8 

6J  2(22 

7(24  32 

9j'  7(15 

9110(13 

5J     J15J  9j 
Ll'l  21131  7 


39 

53 

70 

55 

59 

75 

105 

155 

202 


7|  2(201 
7J  3(294 
6  7(267 
6(7  (307 


41  1 


8|  4 

10J  2 

51  3 


24 


12 


131  6 


10]  2 
14 


10 


6j  1 
6|  1 


(288 
164 
157 
144 
162 
161 
180 
179 


6|  3|  2(148 
12    4|  1(160 
4j   7|   2|275 
6    6    2J300 
1|290 


20(13(10 

45(11    2|19|   9|  2(319 

3|  9|      (21)  9|  4(270 

9|15|-  9|        51  2(252 

143|ll|12|31|12  (371 

22|  7|  -3(331111  3(378 

12(  2|      |38|10|  3(350 

33 j  6|   3|12|25|  (355 

I  71   1|15|13(  5(328 


2|10|  (16(29 

34|  7|  2|   5 

I  7!  I16, 

9|13|  7|16|26 

2|  9|  3    9(15 

41  21  3115! 


3(298 
1(333 
2(318 
2(300 
3|282 
3(306 


62|27|  51  9    91   41342 


1503.00 


52.00 


93.00 


1528.45|114.75 
1500.00  78.23 
1500.00|  30.00 
1087.54|196,88|184.00|  41.55 


75.00 


63.00 


60.00 


2.00 
3.00 


3.00 
3.00 
4.00 
3.00 
3.00 
2.00 1 

1.65 


88.00 


2.00 
3.00 


3.00 
3.00 
4.00 
3.00 
3.00 
2.00 

75.00 
1.65 

G3.00 


1703.00 


1000.00  190.04 
1213.75J118.60 


100.00] 


28.40(1671.60 
69.68  1740.91 
2.00(11532.00 
150'9.97 
1293.04 


3.00 


96.65(669.00(2098.00 
1108.49|114.51|116.71|  65.66  1405.37 
1047.06|252.80H08.00|169.35|1577.21 
1169.00|197:24|107.00J  31.00  1504.14 


1097.00(128.13 
1183.00J249.03|  79.25 
1000.00J376.22|   75.00| 
1076.00|171.33|100.00| 
1100.00|  78.55 


98.00|  (1323.13 

89.50(1600.78 
1451.22 
3.00(1350.33 
3.00|1279.05 
21.9511138.29 


97.50| 

800.00|193.95|122.39| 

800.00|296.87|  89.22|179.00|1423.84 

1753.33I165.15|105.53|229.50|2253.51 


101 


1895   

69 
10 
18 

50 

11 
8 
15 
16 
19 
21 
3 
54 
112 
15 
20 
56 
60 

4 

8 

u; 

23 
15 

10 
21 
12 

;:i 
8 
10 
15 
44 
25 
17 
U 
5 
28 

17 
1 
2 

10 

2 
5 
5 

3 
1 

22 

11 
5 

10 
11 

14 
3 
10 
21 
1C, 
15 

16 

11 
15 

20 
1!) 
12 
25 
15 
15 
12 
21 

9 

4 
6 

7 

11 

10 

2<; 

3 
12 

10 

1 

28 

5 
1 
3 
3 

7 
2 
7 
6 

5 
6 
7 
9 
6 
7 
4 
5 

404 

418 
450 
503 
489 
485 
498 
482 
519 
534 
526 
519 
514 
624 
634 
665 
699 
693 

1598.S6 
2316.15 

1600.00 
1693.00' 
1738.00 
1740.00 
1890.62 
'2002.40 
2285.37 
5868.38 
6168.00 
6800.00' 
3170.15 
3233.78 
5627.80 
7439.74 
4407.39 
4174.02 

79.50 
182.69 
139.71 

420.79 
229.05 
243.98 
261.50 
881.36 
307.24 
285.29 
147.75 
315.21 
307.35 
552.36 
555.18 
555.33 
557.74 
866.66 

120.36 
134.50 
124.95 
101.27 
106.00 
125.00 
183.59 
150.83 
179.00 
145.47 
191.00 
147.12 
250.00 
450.00 
516.36 
450.00 
450.00 
275.00 

43.20 
454.00 
238.65 
930.10 
641.50 
280.37 
4.00 
529.00 
40.00 
23.70 
35.00 
118.82 
56.75 
295.77 
307.51 
172.91 
435.56 
1863.9 

1841.92 
3087.34 
2103.31 
3145.16 
2714.65 
2389.35 
2339.71 
3163.59 
2811.61 
6322.84 
6541.75 
7381.15 
3784.25 
4531.91 
7006.85 
8617.98 
5850.29 
)  7179.67 

1896  

1897  

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

190G 

1907  -. 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911       

1912 

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Constituents. 

At  the  last  moment  some  valuable 
information  has  come  to  the  Commit- 
tee, and  also  a  picture  from  which  we 
are  able  to  present  another  constituent 
member  with  her  history.  Samuel 
Brumley,  a  constituent  member,  was 
born  November  1st,  1797,  and  died 
January  19,  1950.  December  1th,  1817, 
he  was  married  to  Eliza  C.  Hodges, 
who  was  born  September  18th,  1798. 
She  also  was  a  constituent  member. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  sons, 
and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived 
to  adult  age.  They  came  from  Shel- 
by county,  Ky.,  to  Champaign,  Illinois, 
in  November,  1830.  John  R.  Brumley, 
another  constituent  memebr,  was  born 
October  12th,  1824.  He  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Eliza  Brumley.  He  died 
August  26th,  1853.  Elizabeth  (Lee) 
Truman,  another  constituent  member, 
was  born  November  30th,  1796,  and 
married  John  Truman,  December  22nd, 
1818,  and  died  Miarch  1st,  1855.  She 
was  the  mother  of  four  sons,  and  six 
daughters,  all  of  whom  were  grown, 


and  survived  their  mother's  death. 
The  names  of  these  original  members 
may  be  seen  with  others  on  page  4. 


Mrs.   Eliza   C.   Brumley. 


102 

Rev.  S.  F.  Gleason 


'  'Tis  hard  to  lay  into  the  earth 
A  countenance  so  benign!  a  form  that  walked 
But  yesterday  so  stately  o'er  the  earth." 


The  Rev.  S.  F.  Gleason  was  never 
a  member  of  the  Urbana  Baptist 
church,  but  was  always  a  welcome 
guest  in  its  homes,  and  gladly  heard 
as  a  preacher  in  its  pulpit.  It  was 
through  his  orderly  habits  of  pre- 
serving minutes,  and  other  documents 
of  the  Bloomfield  Association,  that 
the  Historical  Committee  have  been 
able  to  make  as  good  a  record  as  we 
present  in  this  volume.  Your  Com- 
mittee delights  to  honor  the  charac- 
ter of  such  a  man,  and  perpetuate 
his  memory,  by  making  permanent 
his  picture,  and  adding  this  bri^f 
record  of  our  appreciation.  Mrs.  S. 
F.  Gleason  was  very  kind,  and  willing 


to  part  with  these  accumulations  of 
long  years,  in  order  that  they  might 
serve  the  cause  she  loves  as  dearly  as 
her  honored  husband  loved  it. 

Your  Committee  has  secured  these 
Minutes  with  the  understanding  that 
they  are  to  be  bound  in  some  practi- 
cal way  so  that  the  separate  copies 
may  not  be  lost,  and  they  are  to  be 
kept  with  the  archives  of  the  Urbana 
church,  where  they  may  be  consulted 
by  any  historian  seeking  to  write  on 
any  subject  which  they  may  aid. 
Brother  Gleason  was  Secretary  of 
State  Convention  for  23  consecutive 
years.  He  has  been  loved,  and  greatly 
honored  by  his  brethren.  He  has  been 
Moderator  of  the  Bloomfield  Associa- 
tion 21  years,  as  follows:  1871,  1873, 
1883-1895,  1897-1902. 

He  was  clerk  of  the  Bloomfield  as- 
sociation for  four  years,  as  follows: 
1874,  1875,  1881,  1882.  He  was  ap- 
pointed, and  preached  the  introduc- 
tory sermon  1872,  1877,  1888.  As 
Moderator,  his  rulings  were  never 
disputed,  and  his  appointments  of 
Committees  always  very  satisfactory. 
His  influence  will  live  'as  long  as 
any  remain  who  knew  him  personal- 
ly and  the  Committee  hopes  this  hum- 
ble tribute  to  his  careful  habits,  and 
sweet  spirit  may  be  perpetuated 
wherever,  and  whenever  this  book  is 
read.  He  held  the  Pastorate  of  the 
Mahomet  church  for  18  years  and 
again  a  second  pastorate  in  Mahomet 
for  three  years,  and  at  Gifford,  111.,  for 
10  years.  He  was  born  January  1, 
1839.  Ordained  June  10,  1865.  Died, 
Sept.  25th,  1905. 


103 


D.    L.    Scroggins.    Assistant    Supt. 


D.  L.  Scroggins,  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, should  be  on  page  67,  side  by 
side  with  C.  W.  Richards.  He  is  a 
regular  attendant  upon  all  services  of 
the  church  and  makes  a  specialty  o* 
Sunday  school  work. 


R.  S.   Kirkland 
Evangelist. 


Rev.  R.  S.  Kirkland,  an  evangelist, 
is  a  member  with  us,  and  owns  prop- 
erty here,  and  is  educating  his  family 
here.  This  is  his  headquarters  and 


he  frequently  returns  and  takes  part 
in  our  meetings  and  reports  his  work 
from  the  various  fields  where  he  la- 
bors. He  is  a  man  of  very  deep  con- 
victions and  deals  with  the  truth  from 
the  radical  standpoint.  He  is  away 
most  of  the  year  holding  meetings 
with  pastors  and  unions.  He  and 
Professor  Leonard  led  an  evangelistic 
campaign  in  the  home  church  a  short 
while  ago. 


F.   F.   Leonard. 

Evangelistic    Singer. 


Prof.  F.  F.  Leonard,  an  evangelis- 
tic singer,  is  a  member  of  our  church 
and  makes  his  headquarters  in  Ur- 
bana,  while  he  goes  all  over  the 
country  singing,  and  oftimes  preach- 
ing the  Gospel.  He  can  conduct  his 
own  meeting,  doing  preaching,  or 
singing,  or  both.  It  is  always  a  pleas- 
ure to  have  him  return  home,  and  join 
in  our  church  services.  Our  people 


104 


are  very  fond  of  his  singing,  and 
leadership.  His  delightful  family  are 
members  with  us  and  take  full  part  in 
our  work. 


B.   S.    Lanham. 


MYRA   SILVERS    FUND. 

October  6th,  1909,  the  trustees  re- 
ported the  gift  of  $300  by  Miss  Myra 
Silvers,  which  has  been  kept  as  a 
sort  of  Music  Fund.  This  fund  ought 
to  be  greatly  increased  by  additions  of 
larger  or  smaller  sums  on  the  part  of 
those  who  appreciate  good  music. 

It  is  very  desirable  that  this  fund 
should  be  increased  to  a  sufficiently 
large  sum  that  the  income  will  furnish 
our  choir  with  plenty  of  new  music, 
as  they  may  need  it.  The  Trustees 
will  accept  any  bequest,  large  o- 
small,  if  designated  for  this  fund  and 
hold  it  in  trust  to  the  memory  of  Miss 
Myra  Silver. 

Mrs.  Eliza  W.  Silver,  who  died  in 
1863,  was  one  of  the  oldest  members. 
Her  son,  Wallace  Silver,  still  sur- 
vives. 

Miss  Myra  Silver. 


B.  S.  Lanham  was  the  custodian  of 
Incidental  funds  for  many  years  in  the 
church  during  that  period  when  the 
church  elected  two  Treasurers. 

Brother  Lanham  was  elected  fre- 
quently before  and  after  Deacon  Dud- 
ley McClain  died.  The  latter  ha-3 
been  very  deeply  interested  in  this 
part  of  the  finance  of  the  church  anc, 
very  commendably  had  started  e  trus* 
fund  for  that  purpose.  At  the  funeral 
of  Deacon  Dudley  McClain  his  spe- 
cial fund  was  increased  to  $400.00  and 
a  mortgage  was  paid,  and  the  iun:1 
ceased. 

December  31,  1880,  the  church  be- 
gan to  elect  a  single  Treasurer  and  B 
S.  Lanham  was  elscted  as  the  first 
single  treasurer. 

He  was  also  a  regular  attendant  at 
Prayer  and  Business  Meetings,  and 
enjoyed  the  revival  meetings,  and 
baptismal  services. 


105 


Farther    Lights. 

Monday  night,  August  25th,  1913,  a 
company  of  the  young  girls  of  the 
church,  met  in  the  Parsonage,  and  or- 
ganized a  young  girls'  Missionary  so- 
ciety, and  adopted  the  name  given 
above.  Miss  Elizabeth  Webber  was 
elected  president,  Miss  Margaret  Cof- 
fey,  1st  Vice  President,  Miss  Maud 
Snyder,  2nd  Vice  President,  Miss 
Bessie  Winchester,  3rd  Vice  President, 
Miss  Helen  Freeman,  4th  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Miss  Esther  Condit,  Secretary, 
and  Miss  Ella  Zipprodt,  Treasurer. 
These  Vice  Presidents  are  at  the 
head  of  the  various  committees.  The 
Society  will  meet  on  the  First  Tues- 
day in  every  month  at  7:30  in  the 
Parsonage. 


OFFICIAL    DIRECTORY 

Pastor Rev.  G.   M.   Shott,   D.D. 

Moderator j.    s.   Hall 

Clerk Horace   B.    Ingalls 

Treasurer....  ....E.    M.    Knowlton 


DEACONS 


President H.    P.    Stinespring 

Clerk Ed.    Lanham 

E.   P.   Barnhart.       W.  I.  Roberts. 

L.  A.  McLean.         Hiram   Jones. 

E.  T.   Strong.  J.   S.  Hall. 

W.   L.   Bennett. 


M'CLAIN-BUSEY   FUND. 

Deacon  Dudley  McClain  had  charge 
of  the  incidental  funds  of  the  church 
till  he  became  thoroughly  interested 
in  it,  and  began  accumulating  a  fund 
which  was  to  be  known  as  the  Mc- 
Clain-Busey  fund  for  incidentals,  tie 
church  agreeing  to  keep  the  fund  up 
to  Three  Hundred  Dollars.  On  the  TRUSTEES 

day  of  Deacon  McClain's  funeral  the      President F.    C.    Hubbard 

church  paid  a  debt  of  $400.00  on  mort-      Secretary Charles  J.  Johnson 

gage  as  a  memorial  to  him.  Other  W.  R.  Barnhart.  E.  A.  Winchester, 
memorials  should  be  organized  for  fu-  George  Douglass.  Dr.  C.  D.  Gulick. 
ture  contingencies. 

SUNDAY    SCHOOL 
TWO    NEEDS.  Supt C-    W-    Richards 

The  first  need  of  our  school  is  that      Asst  Su& D-  L-  Scroggins 

the    teachers    and    officers    shall    em- 
phasize the  importance  of  pupils  who  WOMAN'S     MISSION     CIRCLE 

are  church  members  forming  the  hab-      President....M rs.   Leota   Stinespring 

it   of   attendance   at   church   services.      vice  Pres Mrs-  Catherine  Hissong 

The  school  was  never  intended  to  be 

a    substitute    for    church    attendance.         LADIES'      EXTENSION      SOCIETY 

It   defeats  its   purpose   when   made   a      President Mrs.  C.  L.  Van  Doren 

substitute.     The  next  need  is  a  prop- 
erly built  primary  building,  where  we  YOUNG    PEOPLE'S    UNION 

may  care  for  all  little  ones  in  a  light      President S.    A.    Rwland 

and  comfortable  room.  Vice-President Agnes  Newell 


106 

•rti. 

INDEX 

— o — 

N.  B. — Chapter  V  and  VI  are  misplaced,  and  the  mistake  was  not  discovered 
till  too  late  to  correct  it.  This  in  nowise  interferes  with  the  continuity  of  the 
history. 

CHAPTER   I.     Pages  1-2. 

Aboriginal  Hisiory.  Organization  of  First  Church  in  the  State.  Indians. 
Pottawotamies  and  Kickapoos. 

CHAPTER   II.     Pages  3-12. 

Original  History.  Organization  of  First  Church,  Urbana.  Elder  Isaac 
Newell.  Original  13.  Mrs.  Matilda  Bryant.  J.  T.  Roe.  Mathias  Rinehart.  Log 
School  House.  Rev.  D.  S.  French,  D.D.  James  Myers.  James  Busey.  William 
Gill.  Dudley  McClain.  J.  M.  Everett.  Edward  Ater.  Robert  Slater.  G.  W. 
Riley.  Mrs.  Bethire  Riley. 

CHAPTER    III.     Pages   12-22. 

Median  History.  Elder  D.  F.  Carnahan.  Rev.  W.  H.  Steadman,  D.D.  Rev. 
G.  M.  Shott.  George  A.  Walker.  Rev.  E.  C.  Sage,  Ph.D.  Rev  F.  J.  Leavitt. 

CHAPTER  IV.     Pages  22-31.  » 

Rev.  W.  W.  Smith.  Rev.  J.  W.  Primm.  Rev.  J.  F.  Mills,  Ph.D.  Rev.  M.  L. 
Rugg,  D.D.  Rev.  J.  A.  Brown.  Rev.  R.  V.  Meigs.  Rev.  G.  M.  Shott,  D.D. 
Fourth  quarter  century. 

CHAPTER  V.     Pages  40-50. 
Past  Membership  Roll.     Membership  of  the  Past.     Old  Guard. 

CHAPTER  VI.     Pages  51-57. 
Present  membership.    Baptist  Proportion. 

CHAPTER  VII.     Pages  32-35. 
Pastors.    Deacons.     Clerks.     F.  M.  Snyder.     License. 

CHAPTER  VIII.     Pages  36-39. 

Finance.  Treasurers.  Trustees.  E.  M.  Knowlton.  Hospitality.  Benevo- 
lence Table. 

CHAPTER  IX.     Pages  58-70 

Meeting  Houses.  Dedications.  Parsonages.  "Mother  Busey."  George 
Brash. 

CHAPTER  X.     Pages  70-75. 

Sunday  School.  C.  W.  Richards.  D.  L.  Scroggins.  Sunday  School  Table. 
Organized  Classes.  Departments.  Branch  School  No.  1. 

CHAPTER  XI.     Pages  75-78. 
Young  People's  Organizations.     Senior.     Junior.     Intermediate. 

CHAPTER  XII.     Pages  78-88. 

Missions.  Centennial.  Herald  of  Hope.  Rev.  Edgar  Woolhouse.  Mrs. 
Woolhouse.  Cunningham  Avenue  Church.  Miss  Nelle  Hubbard. 

CHAPTER  XIII.     Pages  88-106. 

Music.  Robert  Slater.  N.  A.  Riley.  George  M.  Bennett.  Pipe  Organ.  La- 
dies' Extension  Society.  Woman's  Mission  Circle.  Baptist  Boys'  Brigade. 
Children  of  the  King.  First  Church,  and  the  University.  University  Baptist 
Church.  Resolutions.  Indoor  Baptistry.  J.  W.  Cushman.  Miss  Myra  Silver. 
Mrs.  Eliza  Brumley.  B.  S.  Lanham.  (Should  be  on  page  37.)  Rev.  R.  S. 
Kirkland.  Prof.  F.  F.  Leonard. 


ERRATA 

Page     9 — A  picture  of  Deacon  Edward  Ater  was  found  too  late  for  a  cut. 
Page  26 — Near  bottom  of  first  column  read  March  5,  190;?,  instead  of  J892. 
Page  27 — Balance  line  should  be  above  balance  and  not.  below 

Page  29 — Near  bottom  of  first  cohim,  the  para&raph  on  page  104  concerning 
Miss  Myra  Silver,  should  be  inserted. 

Page  38 — In  middle  article,  right  hand  column,  second  line,  from  top  read 
Eighteen  hundred  Dollars  are  pledged  and  most  of  it  collected.  The 
effort  will  continue  till  the  full  amount  is  raised.  In  last  sentence 
Brother  F.  C.  Hubbard  wishes  his  name  omitted  and  all  'lonor  given 
to  God. 

Page  39 — Bottom  of  table  and  statistics  for  1913.  State,  $129.02.  Home,  $71.85. 
W.  H.  M.,  $75.00.  Foreign,  $129.67.  W.  F.  M.,  $80.00.  5'ub.  Soc., 
$18.59.  Education,  $16.74.  Min.  Home,  $6.97.  Total,  $955.40.  .Add 
this  to  Grand  Total,  which  will  make  the  following  total  of  all  Be- 
nevolence reported  for  75  years.  State  Missions,  $1,878.68.  Home, 
$1,586.88.  W.  H.  M.,  $946.69.  Foreign,  $3,479.02.  W.  F.  M..  $1,023.95. 
Pub  Soc.,  $975.40.  Education.  $2,245.18.  Min.  Home,  $191.79.  Grand 
Total,  $12,327.59. 

Page  42 — Add  Mrs.  William  Creech. 

Page  54 — Omit  name  of  Miss  Caroline  Nogle,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Ralph  Grimes. 

Page  72-— Second  line  from  top  right  hand  column  read  appointed  May  12,  1913. 

Page  74 — Year  1898  E.  C.  Downey  was  Superintendent  instead  of  C.  A.  Tufts. 
Year  1899  reads  as  follows:  J.  H.  Hall.  Off.  and  Teachers.  34.  Schol- 
ars, 348.  Av.  At.  225.  Expenses,  $10»>.  Co.  Missions,  $15.00.  Total, 
$121.00.  The  grand  total  includes  thifa  year. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBAN* 


"VENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY  HISTORY.  URBAN 


